THE 


SPANISH    BALLADS. 


TRANSLATED   BY 

J.  G.   LOG KH ART,   LL.B. 


CHRONICLE    OF    THE    CID. 


BY 

ROBERT  SOUTHEY. 


NEW  YORK: 
THOMAS  Y.   CROWELL  &  CO.. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Arakelyan, 
148  &.  150  Pearl  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


PREFACE. 


LOCKHART'S  translations  of  the  Spanish  Ballads  appeared 
originally  in  Black-wood's  Magazine,  and  were  published  in  a 
separate  form  in  1822,  from  which  edition  this  volume  has 
been  printed.  It  contains  two  or  three  more  Ballads  than  the 
later  edition.  Lockhart  appropriately  appended  some  of  them, 
the  same  year,  to  his  edition  of  Motteux's  "  Don  Quixote." 

The  Publishers,  in  uniting  with  them  Southey's  fine  trans- 
lation of  the  "Chronicle  of  the  Cid,"  believe  that  they  are 
adding  to  the  value  and  interest  of  these  charming  Ballads  by 
presenting  at  the  same  time  a  perfect  picture  of  the  Spanish 
mind  at  the  most  striking  and  interesting  period  of  the  na- 
tional history. 

John  Gibson  Lockhart,  the  son  of  a  minister  of  the  Kirk  of 
Scotland,  was  born  1794,  and  died  1854.  He  married  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.  From  1826  to  1853  he 
was  the  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Review.  He  was  the  author 
of  several  novels  and  tales,  "Valerius,"  "Reginald  Dalton," 
<zc.,  and  of  a  very  interesting  "  Life  of  Sir  Walter  Scott " ;  but 
he  will  probably  be  best  known  to  posterity  as  the  translator 
of  the  Spanish  Ballads,  to  which  his  genius  has  given  the  spirit 
and  life  of  an  original  work. 

Southey,  whose  translation  is  here  united  with  his,  was  a 
contemporary  poet  with  him,  though  some  twenty  years  older, 

2010055 


4  PREFACE. 

having  been  born  in  1774.  He  was  a  voluminous  writer  — 
poet,  historian,  essayist,  and  biographer,  and  one  of  the  best 
read  men  of  the  age.  He  married  Caroline  Bowles,  the  poet- 
ess, as  his  second  wife ;  and  died,  after  a  life  of  unwearied 
literary  toil,  in  1843.  He  was  Poet  Laureate,  and  Sir  Robert 
Peel  offered  him  a  baronetcy,  which  he  declined. 


CONTENTS. 


MGB 

INTRODUCTION g 

HISTORICAL   BALLADS. 

THE  LAMENTATION  OF  DON  RODERICK 21 

THE  PENITENCE  OF  DON  RODERICK 24 

THE  MARCH  OF  BERNARDO  DEL  CARPIO 38 

THE  COMPLAINT  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA 31 

THE  FUNERAL  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA 33 

BERNARDO  AND  ALPHONSO 35 

THE  MAIDEN  TRIBUTE 38 

THE  ESCAPE  OF  COUNT  FERNAN  GONSALEZ 41 

THE  SEVEN  HEADS 45 

THE  VENGEANCE  OF  MUDARRA 51 

THE  WEDDING  OF  THE  LADY  THERESA 53 

THE  YOUNG  CID : 56 

XlMENA   DEMANDS    VENGEANCE 58 

THE  Cm  AND  THE  FIVE  MOORISH  KINGS 60 

THE  CID'S  COURTSHIP 62 

THE  CID'S  WEDDING 64 

THE  CID  AND  THE  LEPER 66 

BAVIECA 69 

THE  EXCOMMUNICATION  OF  THE  CID 71 

GARCI   PEREZ  DE  VARGAS 73 

THE   POUNDER 77 

THE  MURDER  OF  THE  MASTER  OF  ST.  IAGO 79 

THE  DEATH  OF  QUEEN  BLANCHE 84 

THE   DEATH   OF  DON   PEDRO 87 

THE  PROCLAMATION  OF  KING  HENRY 91 

THE  LORD  OF  BUTRAGO 97 

THE  KING  OF  ARRAGON 99 

THE  Vow  OF  THE  MOOR  REDUAN 101 


6  CONTENTS. 

FACE 

THE  FLIGHT  FROM  GRANADA 104 

THE  DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO  OF  AGUILAR 106 

THE  DEPARTURE  OF  KING  SEBASTIAN  . .  . .  1 10 


MOORISH   BALLADS. 

THE  BULL-FIGHT  OF  GAZUL 112 

THE  ZEGRI'S  BRIDE 116 

THE  BRIDAL  OF  ANDALLA 1 18 

ZARA'S    EAR-RINGS 120 

THE  LAMENTATION  FOR  THE  DEATH  OF  CELIN 122 

ROMANTIC   BALLADS. 

THE  MOOR  CALAYNOS 124 

THE  ESCAPE  OF  GAYFEROS 130 

MELISENDRA 133 

LADY  ALDA'S  DREAM 137 

THE  ADMIRAL  GUARINOS 139 

THE  LADY  OF  THE  TREE 145 

THE  FALSE  QUEEN 147 

THE  AVENGING  CHILDE 148 

COUNT  ARNALDOS ". 150 

SONG  FOR  THE  MORNING  OF  THE  DAY  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST 152 

JULIANA 155 

THE  SONG  OF  THE  GALLEY 156 

THE  WANDERING  KNIGHT'S  SONG 158 

MINGUILLO    159 

SERENADE 160 

MINGUELA'S  CHIDING 161 

THE  CAPTIVE  KNIGHT  AND  THE  BLACKBIRD 164 

VALLADOLID 166 

THE  ILL-MARRIED  LADY • 167 

DRAGUT 169 

COUNT  ALARCOS  AND  THE  INFANTA  SOLISA 171 


ANCIENT  SPANISH  BALLADS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  intention  of  this  Publication  is  to  furnish  the  English  reader 
with  some  notion  of  that  old  Spanish  minstrelsy,  which  has  been 
preserved  in  the  different  Cancioneros  and  Romanceros  of  the  six- 
teenth century. 

That  great  mass  of  popular  poetry  has  never  yet  received  in  its 
own  country  the  attention  to  which  it  is  entitled.  While  hundreds 
of  volumes  have  been  written  about  authors  who  were,  at  the  best, 
ingenious  imitators  of  classical  or  Italian  models,  not  one,  of  the 
least  critical  merit,  has  been  bestowed  upon  those  older  and  simpler 
poets  who  were  contented  with  the  native  inspirations  of  Castilian 
pride.  No  Spanish  Percy,  or  Ellis,  or  Ritson,  has  arisen  to  perform 
what  no  one  but  a  Spaniard  can  entertain  the  smallest  hope  of 
achieving. 

Mr.  Bouterwek,  in  his  excellent  History  of  Spanish  Literature, 
complained  that  no  attempt  had  ever  been  made  even  to  arrange 
the  old  Spanish  ballads  in  anything  like  chronological  order.  An 
ingenious  countryman  of  his  own,  Mr.  Depping.  has  since,  in  some 
measure,  supplied  this  defect.  He  has  arranged  the  historical  bal- 
lads according  to  the  chronology  of  the  persons  and  events  which 
they  celebrate  —  for  even  this  obvious  matter  had  not  been  attended 
to  by  the  original  Spanish  collectors  —  but  he  has  modestly  and 
judiciously  refrained  from  attempting  the  chronological  arrangement 
of  them  as  compositions  ;  feeling,  of  course,  that  no  person  can  ever 
acquire  such  a  delicate  knowledge  of  a  language  not  his  own,  as 
might  enable  him  to  distinguish,  with  accuracy,  between  the  differ- 
ent shades  of  antiquity — or  even  perhaps  to  draw,  with  certainty 
and  precision,  the  broader  line  between  that  which  is  of  genuine 
antiquity,  and  that  which  is  mere  modern  imitation.  By  far  the 
greater  part  of  the  following  translations  is  from  pieces  which  the 
reader  may  find  in  Mr.  Depping's  Collection,  published  at  Leipzig 
in  1817. 

It  is  therefore,  in  the  present  state  of  things,  quite  impossible  to 
determine  to  what  period  the  composition  of  the  oldest  Spanish 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

ballads  now  extant  ought  to  be  referred.  The  first  Cancionero, 
that  of  Ferdinand  de  Castillo,  was  published  so  early  as  1510.  In 
it  a  considerable  number  of  the  historical  and  of  the  romantic  class 
of  ballads  are  included ;  and  as  the  title  of  the  book  itself  bears 
"  Obras  de  todos  o  de  los  mas  principales  Trobadores  de  Espana, 
assi  antiguos  como  modernos"  it  is  clear  that  at  least  a  certain  num- 
ber of  these  pieces  were  considered  as  entitled  to  the  appellation 
of  "ancient"  in  the  year  1510. 

The  Cancionero  de  Romances,  published  at  Antwerp  in  1555,  and 
afterwards  often  reprinted  under  the  name  of  Romancero,  was  the 
earliest  collection  that  admitted  nothing  but  ballads.  The  Roman- 
cero Historiado  of  Lucas  Rodriguez,  appeared  at  Alcala  in  15  79  :  — 
the  Collection  of  Lorenzo  de  Sepulveda,  at  Antwerp,  in  1566.  The 
ballads  of  the  Cid  were  first  published  in  a  collected  form  in  1615, 
by  Escobar. 

But  there  are  not  wanting  circumstances  which  would  seem  to 
establish,  for  many  of  the  Spanish  ballads,  a  claim  to  antiquity  much 
higher  than  is  to  be  inferred  from  any  of  these  dates.  In  the  oldest 
edition  of  the  Cancionero  General,  for  example,  there  are  several 
pieces  which  bear  the  name  of  Don  Juan  Manuel.  If  they  were 
composed  by  the  celebrated  author  of  Count  Lucanor  (and  it 
appears  very  unlikely  that  any  person  of  less  distinguished  rank 
should  have  assumed  that  style  without  some  addition  or  distinc- 
tion), we  must  carry  them  back  at  least  as  far  as  the  year  1362, 
when  the  Prince  Don  Juan  Manuel  died.  But  this  is  not  all.  The 
ballads  bearing  the  name  of  that  illustrious  author,  are  so  far  from 
appearing  to  be  among  the  most  ancient  in  the  Cancionero  that 
even  a  very  slight  examination  must  be  sufficient  to  establish  exactly 
the  reverse.  The  regularity  and  completeness  of  their  rhymes  alone 
are  in  fact  quite  enough  to  satisfy  any  one  who  is  acquainted  with 
the  usual  style  of  the  redondillas,  that  the  ballads  of  Don  Juan 
Manuel  are  among  the  most  modern  in  the  whole  collection.1 

But  indeed,  whatever  may  be  the  age  of  the  ballads  now  extant, 
that  the  Spaniards  had  ballads  of  the  same  general  character,  and 
on  the  same  subjects,  at  a  very  early  period  of  their  national  his- 

1 A  single  stanza  of  one  of  them  will  be  enough :  — 

Gritando  va  el  caballero  publicando  su  gran  mal, 
Vestidas  ropas  de  luto,  aforradas  en  sayal ; 
Por  las  monies  sin  caminp  con  dolor  y  suspirar, 
Llorando  a  pie  descalc,o,  jurando  de  no  tornar,  &c. 

Compare  this  with  such  a  ballad  as 

No  te  espantes,  caballero,  ni  tengas  tamana  grima 
Hija  soy  del  buen  Rey  y  de  la  Reyna  de  Castilla,  &c. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

tory,  is  quite  certain.  In  the  General  Chronicle  of  Spain,  which 
was  compiled  in  the  thirteenth  century,  at  the  command  of  Alphonso 
the  Wise,  allusions  are  perpetually  made  to  the  popular  songs  of  the 
minstrels,  or  Joglares.  Now,  it  is  evident  that  the  phraseology  of 
compositions  handed  down  orally  from  one  generation  to  another, 
must  have  undergone,  in  the  course  of  time,  a  great  many  altera- 
tions ;  yet,  in  point  of  fact,  the  language  of  by  far  the  greater  part 
of  the  Historical  Ballads  in  the  Romancero,  does  appear  to  carry 
the  stamp  of  an  antiquity  quite  as  remote  as  that  used  by  the  com- 
pilers of  the  General  Chronicle  themselves.  Nay,  some  of  those 
very  expressions  from  which  Mr.  Southey  would  seem  to  infer  that 
the  CHRONICLE  OF  THE  Cm  is  a  more  ancient  composition  than 
the  GENERAL  CHRONICLE  OF  SPAIN  (which  last  was  written  before 
1384),  are  quite  of  common  occurrence  in  these  same  ballads, 
which  Mr.  Southey  considers  as  of  comparatively  modern  origin. 

All  this,  however,  is  a  controversy  in  which  few  English  readers 
can  be  expected  to  take  much  interest.  And,  besides,  even  grant- 
ing that  the  Spanish  ballads  were  composed  but  a  short  time  before 
the  first  Cancioneros  were  published,  it  would  still  be  certain  that 
they  form  by  far  the  oldest,  as  well  as  largest,  collection  of  popular 
poetry,  properly  so  called,  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  literature  of 
any  European  nation  whatever.  Had  there  been  published  in  Lon- 
don in  the  reign  of  our  Henry  VIII.,  a  vast  collection  of  English 
ballads  about  the  wars  of  the  Plantagenets,  what  illustration  and 
annotation  would  not  that  collection  have  received  long  ere  now  ! 

How  the  old  Spaniards  should  have  come  to  be  so  much  more 
wealthy  in  this  sort  of  possession  than  any  of  their  neighbours,  it  is 
not  very  easy  to  say.  They  had  their  taste  for  warlike  song  in 
common  with  all  the  other  members  of  the  great  Gothic  family, 
and  they  had  a  fine  climate,  affording,  of  course,  more  leisure  for 
amusement  than  could  have  been  enjoyed  beneath  the  rougher  sky 
of  the  north.  The  flexibility  of  their  beautiful  language,  and  the 
extreme  simplicity  of  the  versification  adopted  in  their  ballads, 
must,  no  doubt,  have  lightened  the  labour,  and  may  have  conse- 
quently increased  the  number  of  their  professional  minstrels. 

To  tell  some  well-known  story  of  love  or  heroism,  in  stanzas  of 
four  octosyllabic  lines,  the  second  and  the  fourth  terminating  in 
the  same  rhyme,  or  in  what  the  musical  accompaniment  could 
make  to  have  some  appearance  of  being  the  same —  this  was  all  that 
the  art  of  the  Spanish  coplero,  in  its  most  perfect  state,  ever  aspired 
to  :  —  but  a  line  of  seven  or  of  six  syllables,  was  admitted  whenever 
that  suited  the  maker  better  than  one  of  eight ;  the  stanza  itself 


It  INTRODUCTION. 

varied  from  four  to  six  lines,  with  equal  ease ;  and,  as  for  the  mat- 
ter of  rhyme,  it  was  quite  sufficient  that  the  two  corresponding 
syllables  contained  the  same  vowel.1  In  a  language  less  abundant 
in  harmonious  vocables,  such  laxity  could  scarcely  have  satisfied 
the  ear.  But  the  Spanish  is,  like  the  sister  Italian,  music  in  itself, 
though  music  of  a  bolder  character. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  structure  of  the  rcdondillas,  as  Spanish 
writers  generally  speak  of  it,  when  I  have  said  that  the  stanzas  con- 
sist of  four  lines.  But  the  distinguished  German  antiquarian,  Mr. 
Grimm,  who  has  published  a  little  sylva  of  Spanish  ballads,  ex- 
presses his  opinion  that  the  stanza  was  composed  in  reality  of  two 
long  lines,  and  that  these  had  subsequently  been  cut  into  four,  ex- 
actly as  we  know  to  have  been  the  case  in  regard  to  our  own  old 
English  ballad-stanza.  Mr.  Grimm,  in  his  small,  but  very  elegant 
collection,  prints  the  Spanish  verses  in  what  he  thus  supposes  to 
have  been  their  original  shape  ;  and  I  have  followed  his  example 
in  the  form  of  the  stanza  which  I  have  for  the  most  part  used  in 
my  translations,  as  well  as  in  quoting  occasionally  from  the  originals. 

So  far  as  I  have  been  able,  I  have  followed  Mr.  Depping  in  the 
classification  of  the  specimens  which  follow. 

The  reader  will  find  placed  together  at  the  beginning  those  bal- 
lads which  treat  of  persons  and  events  known  in  the  authentic  his- 
tory of  Spain.  —  A  few  concerning  the  unfortunate  Don  Roderick, 
and  the  Moorish  conquest  of  the  eighth  century,  form  the  com- 
mencement ;  and  the  series  is  carried  down,  though  of  course  with 
wide  gaps  and  intervals,  yet  so  as  to  furnish  something  like  a  con- 
nected sketch  of  the  gradual  progress  of  the  Christian  arms,  until 
the  surrender  of  Granada,  in  the  year  1492,  and  the  consequent 
flight  of  the  last  Moorish  Sovereign  from  the  Peninsula. 

Throughout  that  very  extensive  body  of  historical  ballads  from 
which  these  specimens  have  been  selected,  there  prevails  an  uni- 
formly high  tone  of  sentiment — such  as  might  have  been  expected 
to  distinguish  the  popular  poetry  of  a  nation  proud,  haughty,  free, 

1  For  example: 

Y  arrastrando  luengos  lutos 
Entraron  McyMafidalgos 
Escuderos  de  Ximena 
Hija  del  conde  Lortano. 

Or. 

A  Don  Alvaro  de  Luna 
Condestable  de  Casiilla 
El  rey  Don  Juan  el  Segundo 
Con  ma)  semblante  lo  mira,  ftc. 

But  indeed  even  this  might  be  dispensed  with. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

and  engaged  in  continual  warfare  against  enemies  of  different  faith 
and  manners,  but  not  less  proud  and  not  less  warlike  than  them- 
selves. Those  petty  disputes  and  dissensions  which  so  long  divided 
the  Christian  princes,  and  consequently  favoured  and  maintained 
the  power  of  the  formidable  enemy  whom  they  all  equally  hated  — 
those  struggles  between  prince  and  nobility,  which  were  productive 
of  similar  effects  after  the  crowns  of  Leon  and  Castile  had  been 
united  —  those  domestic  tragedies  which  so  often  stained  the 
character  and  weakened  the  arms  of  the  Spanish  kings  —  in  a  word, 
all  the  principal  features  of  the  old  Spanish  history  may  be  found, 
more  or  less  distinctly  shadowed  forth,  among  the  productions  of 
these  faithful  and  unflattering  minstrels. 

Of  the  language  of  Spain,  as  it  existed  under  the  reign  of  the 
Visigoth  kings,  we  possess  no  monuments.  —  The  laws  and  the 
chronicles  of  the  period  were  equally  written  in  Latin  —  and 
although  both,  in  all  probability,  must  have  been  frequently  ren- 
dered into  more  vulgar  dialects,  for  the  use  of  those  whose  business 
it  was  to  understand  them,  no  traces  of  any  such  versions  have 
survived  the  many  storms  and  struggles  of  religious  and  political 
dissension,  of  which  this  interesting  region  has  since  been  made 
the  scene.  To  what  precise  extent,  therefore,  the  language  and 
literature  of  the  Peninsula  felt  the  influence  of  that  great  revolution 
which  subjected  the  far  greater  part  of  her  territory  to  the  sway  of 
a  Mussulman  sceptre  —  and  how  much  or  how  little  of  what  we  at 
this  hour  admire  or  condemn  in  the  poetry  of  Portugal,  Arragon, 
Castile,  is  really  not  of  Spanish  but  of  Moorish  origin  —  these  are 
matters  which  have  divided  all  the  great  writers  of  literary  history, 
and  which  we,  in  truth,  have  little  chance  of  ever  seeing  accurately 
or  completely  decided.  —  No  one,  however,  who  considers  of  what 
elements  the  Christian  population  of  Spain  was  originally  com- 
posed, and  in  what  shapes  the  mind  of  nations,  every  way  kindred 
to  that  population,  was  expressed  during  the  middle  ages,  can 
have  any  doubt  that  great  and  remarkable  influence  was  exerted 
over  Spanish  thought  and  feeling  —  and,  therefore,  over  Spanish 
language  and  poetry  —  by  the  influx  of  those  Oriental  tribes  that 
occupied,  for  seven  long  centuries,  the  fairest  provinces  of  the 
Peninsula. 

Spain,  although  of  all  the  provinces  which  owned  the  authority 
of  the  Caliphs  she  was  the  most  remote  from  the  seat  of  their 
empire,  appears  to  have  been  the  very  first  in  point  of  cultivation ; 
—  her  governors  having,  for  at  least  two  centuries,  emulated  one 
another  in  affording  every  species  of  encouragement  and  protection 


14  INTRODUCTION, 

to  all  those  liberal  arts  and  sciences  which  first  flourished  at  Bag- 
dad under  the  sway  of  Haroon  Al-Raschid,  and  his  less  celebrated, 
but,  perhaps,  still  more  enlightened  son  Al-Mamoun.  Beneath 
the  wise  and  munificent  patronage  of  these  rulers,  the  cities  of 
Spain,  within  three  hundred  years  after  the  defeat  of  King  Rod- 
erick, had  been  everywhere  penetrated  with  a  spirit  of  elegance, 
tastefulness,  and  philosophy,  which  afforded  the  strongest  of  all 
possible  contrasts  to  the  contemporary  condition  of  the  other  king- 
doms of  Europe.  At  Cordova,  Granada,  Seville,  and  many  now 
less  considerable  towns,  colleges  and  libraries  had  been  founded 
and  endowed  in  the  most  splendid  manner  —  where  the  most 
exact  and  the  most  elegant  of  sciences  were  cultivated  together 
with  equal  zeal.  Averroes  translated  and  expounded  Aristotle  at 
Cordova;  Ben-Zaid  and  Aboul-Mander  wrote  histories  of  their 
nation  at  Valencia ; —  Abdel-Maluk  set  the  first  example  of  that 
most  interesting  and  useful  species  of  writing,  by  which  Moreri1 
and  others  have  since  rendered  services  so  important  to  ourselves ; 
and  even  an  Arabian  Encyclopaedia  was  compiled  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mohammed-Aba-Abdallah  at  Granada.  Ibn-el-Beither 
went  forth  from  Malaga  to  search  through  all  the  mountains  and 
plains  of  Europe  for  everything  that  might  enable  him  to  perfect 
his  favourite  sciences  of  botany  and  lithology,  and  his  works  still 
remain  to  excite  the  admiration  of  all  that  are  in  a  condition  to 
comprehend  their  value.  The  Jew  of  Tudela  was  the  worthy  suc- 
cessor of  Galen  and  Hippocrates  :  while  chemistry,  and  other 
branches  of  medical  science,  almost  unknown  to  the  ancients, 
received  their  first  astonishing  developments  from  Al-Rasi  and 
Avicenna.  Rhetoric  and  poetry  were  not  less  diligently  studied  ; 
and,  in  a  word,  it  would  be  difficult  to  point  out,  in  the  whole  his- 
tory of  the  world,  a  time  or  a  country  where  the  activity  of  the 
human  intellect  was  more  extensively,  or  usefully,  or  gracefully 
exerted,  than  in  Spain,  while  the  Mussulman  sceptre  yet  retained 
any  portion  of  that  vigour  which  it  had  originally  received  from 
the  conduct  and  heroism  of  Tarifa. 

Although  the  difference  of  religion  prevented  the  Moors  and 
their  Spanish  subjects  from  ever  being  completely  melted  into  one 
people,  yet  it  appears  that  nothing  could,  on  the  whole,  be  more 
mild  than  the  conduct  of  the  Moorish  government  towards  the 
Christian  population  of  the  country,  during  this  their  splendid 

1  Louis  Moreri,  a  French  Priest,  born  1643,  published  the  great  Historical 
Dictionary  which  bears  his  name,  and  which  was,  we  are  here  told,  preceded 
by  ft  similar  kind  of  work  by  this  learned  Moor.  [Editor's  note.] 


INTR  OD  UC  TION.  IS 

period  of  undisturbed  dominion.  Their  learning  and  their  arts 
they  liberally  communicated  to  all  who  desired  such  participation, 
and  the  Christian  youth  studied  freely  and  honourably  at  the  feet 
of  Jewish  physicians  and  Mahommedan  philosophers.  Commu- 
nication of  studies  and  acquirements,  continued  through  such  a 
space  of  years,  could  not  have  failed  to  break  down,  on  both  sides, 
many  of  the  barriers  of  religious  prejudice,  and  to  nourish  a  spirit 
of  kindliness  and  charity  among  the  more  cultivated  portions  of 
either  people.  The  intellect  of  the  Christian  Spaniards  could  not 
be  ungrateful  for  the  rich  gifts  it  was  every  day  receiving  from  their 
misbelieving  masters ;  while  the  benevolence  with  which  instruc- 
tors ever  regard  willing  disciples,  must  have  tempered  in  the  minds 
of  the  Arabs  the  sentiments  of  haughty  superiority  natural  to  the 
breasts  of  conquerors. 

By  degrees,  however,  the  scattered  remnants  of  unsubdued 
Visigoths,  who  had  sought  and  found  refuge  among  the  mountains 
of  Asturias  and  Gallicia,  began  to  gather  the  strength  of  numbers 
and  of  combination,  and  the  Mussulmans  saw  different  portions 
of  their  empire  successively  wrested  from  their  hands  by  leaders 
whose  descendants  assumed  the  title  of  KINGS  in  Oviedo  and 
Navarre  —  and  of  COUNTS  in  Castile  —  Soprarbia  —  Arragon  — 
and  Barcelona.  From  the  time  when  these  governments  were 
established,  till  all  their  strength  was  united  in  the  persons  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  a  perpetual  war  may  be  said  to  have 
subsisted  between  the  professors  of  the  two  religions ;  and  the 
natural  jealousy  of  Moorish  governors  must  have  gradually,  but 
effectually,  diminished  the  comfort  of  the  Christians  who  yet 
lived  under  their  authority.  Were  we  to  seek  our  ideas  of  the 
period  only  from  the  events  recorded  in  its  chronicles,  we  should 
be  led  to  believe  that  nothing  could  be  more  deep  and  fervid 
than  the  spirit  of  mutual  hostility  which  prevailed  among  all 
the  adherents  of  the  opposite  faiths :  but  external  events  are 
sometimes  not  the  surest  guides  to  the  spirit  whether  of  peoples 
or  of  ages,  and  the  ancient  popular  poetry  of  Spain  may  be 
referred  to  for  proofs,  which  cannot  be  considered  as  either  of 
dubious  or  of  trivial  value,  that  the  rage  of  hostility  had  not  sunk 
quite  so  far  as  might  have  been  imagined  into  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  very  many  that  were  engaged  in  the  conflict. 

There  is,  indeed,  nothing  more  natural,  at  first  sight,  than  to 
reason  in  some  measure  from  a  nation  as  it  is  in  our  own  day, 
back  to  what  it  was  a  few  centuries  ago :  but  nothing  could 
tend  to  the  production  of  greater  mistakes  than  such  a  mode  of 


15  INTR  OD  UC  TION. 

judging  applied  to  the  case  of  Spain.  In  the  erect  and  high- 
spirited  peasantry  of  that  country,  we  still  see  the  genuine  and 
uncorrupted  descendants  of  their  manly  forefathers  —  but  in 
every  other  part  of  the  population,  the  progress  of  corruption 
appears  to  have  been  not  less  powerful  than  rapid,  and  the 
higher  we  ascend  in  the  scale  of  society,  the  more  distinct  and 
mortifying  is  the  spectacle  of  moral  not  less  than  of  physical 
deterioration.  This  universal  falling  off  of  men,  may  be  traced 
very  easily  to  an  universal  falling  off  in  regard  to  every  point 
of  faith  and  feeling  most  essential  to  the  formation  and  preser- 
vation of  a  national  character.  We  have  been  accustomed  to 
consider  the  modern  Spaniards  as  the  most  bigoted  and  enslaved 
and  ignorant  of  Europeans ;  but  we  must  not  forget,  that  the 
Spaniards  of  three  centuries  back  were,  in  all  respects,  a  very 
different  set  of  beings.  Castile,  in  the  first  regulation  of  her 
constitution,  was  as  free  as  any  nation  needs  to  be,  for  all 
the  purposes  of  social  security  and  individual  happiness.  Her 
kings  were  her  captains  and  her  judges  —  the  chiefs  and  the 
models  of  a  gallant  nobility,  and  the  protectors  of  a  manly  and 
independent  peasantry :  but  the  authority  with  which  they  were 
invested,  was  guarded  by  the  most  accurate  limitations,  —  nay  — 
in  case  they  should  exceed  the  boundary  of  their  legal  power  — 
the  statute-book  of  the  realm  itself  contained  exact  rules  for  the 
conduct  of  a  constitutional  insurrection  to  recall  them  to  their 
duty,  or  to  punish  them  for  its  desertion.  Every  order  of  society 
had,  more  or  less  directly,  its  representatives  in  the  national  coun- 
cil, and  every  Spaniard,  of  whatever  degree,  was  penetrated  with 
a  sense  of  his  own  dignity  as  a  freeman  —  his  own  nobility  as  a 
descendant  of  the  Visigoths.  And  it  is  well  remarked  by  an  ele- 
gant historian,1  that,  even  to  this  hour,  the  influence  of  this  happy 
order  of  things  still  continues  to  be  felt  in  Spain  —  where  manners, 
and  language,  and  literature,  have  all  received  indelibly  a  stamp 
of  courts,  and  aristocracy,  and  proud  feeling  —  which  affords  a 
striking  contrast  to  what  may  be  observed  in  modern  Italy,  where 
the  only  freedom  that  ever  existed  had  its  origin  and  residence 
among  citizens  and  merchants. 

The  civil  liberty  of  the  old  Spaniards  could  scarcely  have  existed 
so  long  as  it  did,  in  the  presence  of  any  feeling  so  black  and 
noisome  as  the  bigotry  of  modern  Spain ;  but  this  was  never  tried, 
for  down  to  the  time  of  Charles  V.  no  man  has  any  right  to  say 

1  Sismondi's  Literature  du  Midi. 


INTROD  UCTION.  ]  7 

that  the  Spaniards  were  a  bigoted  people.  One  of  the  worst  feat- 
ures of  their  modern  bigotry  —  their  extreme  and  servile  subjection 
to  the  authority  of  the  Pope,  —  is  entirely  a-wanting  in  the  picture 
of  their  ancient  spirit.  —  In  the  1 2th  century,  the  Kings  of  Arragon 
were  the  protectors  of  the  Albigenses ;  and  their  Pedro  II.  himself 
died  in  1213,  fighting  bravely  against  the  Red  Cross,  for  the  cause 
of  tolerance.  In  1268,  two  brothers  of  the  King  of  Castile  left  the 
banners  of  the  Infidels  beneath  which  they  were  serving  at  Tunis, 
with  800  Castilian  gentlemen,  for  the  purpose  of  coming  to  Italy 
and  assisting  the  Neapolitans  in  their  resistance  to  the  tyranny  of 
the  Pope  and  Charles  of  Anjou.  In  the  great  schism  of  the  West, 
as  it  is  called  (1378),  Pedro  IV.  embraced  the  party  which  the 
Catholic  Church  regards  as  schismatic.  That  feud  was  not  allayed 
for  more  than  a  hundred  years,  and  Alphonso  V.  was  well  paid  for 
consenting  to  lay  it  aside  ;  while  down  to  the  time  of  Charles  V., 
the  whole  of  the  Neapolitan  Princes  of  the  House  of  Arragon  may 
be  said  to  have  lived  in  a  state  of  open  enmity  against  the  Papal 
See  —  sometimes  excommunicated  for  generations  together  —  sel- 
dom apparently  —  never  cordially  reconciled.  When  Ferdinand 
the  Catholic  finally  made  his  first  attempt  to  introduce  the  Inquisi- 
tion into  his  kingdom,  almost  the  whole  nation  took  up  arms  to 
resist  him.  The  Grand  Inquisitor  was  killed,  and  every  one  of  his 
creatures  was  compelled  to  leave,  for  a  season,  the  yet  free  soil  of 
Arragon. 

But  the  strongest  and  best  proof  of  the  comparative  liberality  of 
the  old  Spaniards  is,  as  I  have  already  said,  to  be  found  in  their 
Ballads.  Throughout  the  far  greater  part  of  those  compositions 
there  breathes  a  certain  spirit  of  charity  and  humanity  towards 
those  Moorish  enemies  with  whom  the  combats  of  the  national 
heroes  are  represented.  The  Spaniards  and  the  Moors  lived  to- 
gether in  their  villages  beneath  the  calmest  of  skies,  and  surrounded 
with  the  most  beautiful  of  landscapes.  In  spite  of  their  adverse 
faiths  —  in  spite  of  their  adverse  interests  —  they  had  much  in 
common.  Loves,  and  sports,  and  recreations  —  nay,  sometimes 
their  haughtiest  recollections  were  in  common,  and  even  their 
heroes  were  the  same.  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  Fernan  Gonsalez, 
the  Cid  himself —  almost  every  one  of  the  favourite  heroes  of  the 
Spanish  nation,  had,  at  some  period  or  other  of  his  life,  fought 
beneath  the  standard  of  the  Crescent,  and  the  minstrels  of  either 
nation  might,  therefore,  in  regard  to  some  instances  at  least,  have 
equal  pride  in  the  celebration  of  their  prowess.  The  praises  which 
the  Arab  poets  granted  to  them  in  their  Mouw  ache  hah,  or  girdle 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

verses,  were  repaid  by  liberal  encomiums  on  Moorish  valour  and 
generosity  in  Castilian  and  Arragonese  Redondilleras.  Even  in 
the  ballads  most  exclusively  devoted  to  the  celebration  of  feats  of 
Spanish  heroism,  it  is  quite  common  to  find  some  redeeming  com- 
pliment to  the  Moors  mixed  with  the  strain  of  exultation.  Nay, 
even  in  the  more  remote  and  ideal  chivalries  celebrated  in  the 
Castilian  Ballads,  the  parts  of  glory  and  greatness  are  almost  as 
frequently  attributed  to  Moors  as  to  Christians  ;  —  Calaynos  was  a 
name  as  familiar  as  Gayferos.  At  somewhat  a  later  period,  when 
the  conquest  of  Granada  had  mingled  the  Spaniards  still  more 
effectually  with  the  persons  and  manners  of  the  Moors,  we  find  the 
Spanish  poets  still  fonder  of  celebrating  the  heroic  achievements 
of  their  old  Saracen  rivals  ;  and,  without  doubt,  this  their  liberality 
towards  the  "  Knights  of  Granada,  Gentlemen,  albeit  Moors," 

Caballeros  Granadinos 
Aunque  Moros  hijos  d'algo, 

must  have  been  very  gratifying  to  the  former  subjects  of "  The 
Baby  King."  It  must  have  counteracted  the  bigotry  of  Confessors 
and  Mollahs,  and  tended  to  inspire  both  nations  with  sentiments 
of  kindness  and  mutual  esteem. 

Bernard  del  Carpio,  above  all  the  rest,  was  the  common  prop- 
erty and  pride  of  both  people.  Of  his  all  romantic  life,  the  most 
romantic  incidents  belonged  equally  to  both.  It  was  with  Moors 
that  he  allied  himself  when  he  rose  up  to  demand  vengeance  from 
King  Alphonso  for  the  murder  of  his  father.  It  was  with  Moorish 
brethren  in  arms  that  he  marched  to  fight  against  the  Prankish 
army  for  the  independence  of  the  Spanish  soil.  It  was  in  front  of 
a  half-Leonese,  half- Moorish  host,  that  Bernard  couched  his  lance, 
victorious  alike  over  valour  and  magic, 

When  Rowland  brave  and  Olivier, 
And  every  Paladin  and  Peer 
On  Roncesvalles  died. 

A  few  ballads,  unquestionably  of  Moorish  origin,  and  apparently 
rather  of  the  romantic  than  of  the  historical  class,  are  given  in  a 
section  by  themselves.  The  originals  are  valuable,  as  monuments 
of  the  manners  and  customs  of  a  most  singular  race. 

Composed  originally  by  a  Moor  or  a  Spaniard  (it  is  often  very 
difficult  to  determine  by  which  of  the  two),  they  were  sung  in  the 
village  greens  of  Andalusia  in  either  language,  but  to  the  same 
tunes,  and  listened  to  with  equal  pleasure  by  man,  woman,  and 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

child  —  Mussulman  and  Christian.  In  these  strains,  whatever  other 
merits  or  demerits  they  may  possess,  we  are,  at  least,  presented 
with  a  lively  picture  of  the  life  of  the  Arabian  Spaniard.  We  see 
him  as  he  was  in  reality,  "  like  steel  among  weapons,  like  wax  among 
women," 

Fuerte  qual  azero  entre  armas, 

Y  qual  cera  entre  las  clamas. 

There  came,  indeed,  a  time,  when  the  fondness  of  the  Spaniards 
for  their  Moorish  Ballads  was  made  matter  of  reproach  —  but 
this  was  not  till  long  «after  the  period  when  Spanish  bravery  had 
won  back  the  last  fragments  of  the  Peninsula  from  Moorish  hands. 
It  was  thus  that  a  Spanish  poet  of  the  after  day  expressed  himself :  — 

Vayase  con  Dios  Gazul ! l 
Lleve  el  diablo  a  Celindaxa? 
Y  buelvan  estas  marlotas 
A  quien  se  las  dio  presladas. 

Que  quiere  Dofia  Maria 
Ver  baylar  a  Dofia  Juana, 
Una  gallarda  espanola, 
Que  no  ay  danca  mas  gallarda : 

Y  Don  Pedro  y  Don  Rodrigo 
Vestir  otras  mas  galanas 
Ver  quien  son  estos  danzantes 
Y  conocer  estas  damas. 

Y  el  sefior  Alcayde  quiere 
Saber  quien  es  Abenamar. 
Estos  Zegris  y  Aliatares 
Adulces,  Zaydes,  y  Andallas 

Y  de  que  repartimiento 
Son  Celinda  y  Guadalara, 
Estos  Moros  y  Estas  Moras 
Que  en  todas  las  bodas  danzan. 

Y  por  hablarlo  mas  claro 
Assi  tenguan  buena  pascua, 
Ha  venido  a  su  noticia 
Que  ay  Christianos  en  Espafia. 

But  these  sarcasms  were  not  without  their  answer;  for,  says 
another  poem  in  the  Romancero  General, — 

1  In  the  original  edition  this  name  was  printed  Ganzul.  We  have  changed 
it  to  Gazul,  as  a  needful  correction. 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

Si  es  espafiol  Don  Rodrigo 
EspaGol  fue  el  fuerte  Andalla. 
Y  sepa  el  sefior  Alcayde 
Que  tambien  lo  es  Guadalara. 

But  the  best  argument  follows  :  — 

No  es  culpa  si  de  los  Moros 
Les  valientes  hechos  cantan, 
Pues  tanto  mas  resplendecen 
Neustras  celebras  hazafias. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Moorish  Ballads  refer  to  the  period  im- 
mediately preceding  the  downfall  of  the  throne  of  Granada  —  the 
amours  of  that  splendid  Court  —  the  bull-feasts  and  other  spectacles 
in  which  its  Lords  and  Ladies  delighted  no  less  than  those  of  the 
Christian  Courts  of  Spain  —  the  bloody  feuds  of  the  two  great 
families  of  the  Zegris  and  the  Abencerrages,  which  contributed  so 
largely  to  the  ruin  of  the  Moorish  cause  —  and  the  incidents  of 
that  last  war  itself,  in  which  the  power  of  the  Mussulman  was  en- 
tirely overthrown  by  the  arms  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella.  To  some 
readers  it  may,  perhaps,  occur,  that  the  part  ascribed  to  Moorish 
females  in  these  Ballads  is  not  always  exactly  in  the  Oriental  taste  ; 
but  the  pictures  still  extant  on  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra  contain 
abundant  proofs  how  unfair  it  would  be  to  judge  from  the  manners 
of  any  Mussulman  nation  of  our  day,  of  those  of  the  refined  and 
elegant  Spanish  Moors.  As  a  single  example  of  what  is  meant  — 
in  one  of  those  pictures,  engraved  in  the  "  Arabian  Antiquities  of 
Spain,"  by  Mr.  Murphy,  a  Moorish  Lady  is  represented,  unveiled, 
bestowing  the  prize,  after  a  tourney,  on  a  kneeling  Moorish  Knight. 
********** 

The  specimens  of  which  the  third  and  largest  section  consists, 
are  taken  from  amongst  the  vast  multitude  of  miscellaneous  and 
romantic  ballads  in  the  old  Canrioneros.  The  subjects  of  a  num- 
ber of  these  are  derived  from  the  fabulous  Chronicle  of  Turpin  ; 
and  the  Knights  of  Charlemagne's  Round-Table  appear  in  all  their 
gigantic  lineaments.  But  the  greater  part  is  formed  precisely  of 
the  same  sort  of  materials  which  supplied  our  own  ancient  ballad- 
makers,  both  the  English  and  the  Scottish. 

In  the  original  Spanish  collections,  songs,  both  of  the  serious  and 
of  the  comic  kind,  are  mingled  without  scruple  among  their  roman- 
tic ballads  ;  and  one  or  two  specimens  of  these  also  have  been  at- 
tempted towards  the  conclusion  of  the  following  pages. 

EDINBURGH,  January  3, 


HISTORICAL  BALLADS. 

THE 

LAMENTATION    OF    DON    RODERICK. 


THE  treason  of  Count  Julian,  and,  indeed,  the  whole  history  of 
King  Roderick,  and  the  downfall  of  the  Gothic  Monarchy  in  Spain, 
have  been  so  effectually  made  known  to  the  English  reader  by  Mr. 
Southey  and  Sir  Walter  Scott,  that  it  would  be  impertinent  to  say 
anything  of  these  matters  here.  The  ballad,  a  version  of  which 
follows,  appears  to  be  one  of  the  oldest,  among  the  great  number 
relating  to  the  Moorish  conquest  of  Spain.  One  verse  of  it  is 
quoted,  and  several  parodied,  in  the  Second  Part  of  Don  Quixote, 
in  the  inimitable  chapter  of  the  Puppet-show. 

"  '  Hold,  hold,  sir,'  cried  the  puppet-player, '  hold  for  pity's  sake  ! 
What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  These  are  no  real  Moors  that  you  cut  and 
hack  so,  but  poor  harmless  puppets  made  of  pasteboard.  Think  of 
what  you  do,  you  ruin  me  for  ever.  Oh  that  ever  I  was  born  !  you 
have  broke  me  quite.'  But  Don  Quixote,  without  minding  his  words, 
doubled  and  redoubled  his  blows  so  thick,  and  laid  about  him  so 
outrageously,  that  in  less  than  two  credos  he  had  cut  all  the  strings 
and  wires,  mangled  the  puppets,  and  spoiled  and  demolished  the 
whole  motion.  King  Marsilius  was  in  a  grievous  condition.  The 
Emperor  Charlemagne's  head  and  crown  were  cleft  in  two.  The 
whole  audience  was  in  a  sad  consternation.  The  ape  scampered 
off  to  the  top  of  the  house.  The  scholar  was  frightened  out  of  his 
wits ;  the  page  was  very  uneasy,  and  Sancho  himself  was  in  a  terrible 
fright ;  for,  as  he  swore  after  the  hurricane  was  over,  he  had  never 
seen  his  master  in  such  a  rage  before. 

"  The  general  rout  of  the  puppets  being  over,  Don  Quixote's  fury 
began  to  abate  ;  and  with  a  more  pacified  countenance  turning  to 
the  company,  '  Now,'  said  he,  '  I  could  wish  all  those  incredulous 
persons  here  who  slight  knight-errantry  might  receive  conviction 


22  LAMENTATION  OF  DON  RODERICK. 

of  their  error,  and  behold  undeniable  proofs  of  the  benefit  of  that 
function ;  for  how  miserable  had  been  the  condition  of  poor  Don 
Gayferos  and  the  fair  Melisendra  by  this  time,  had  I  not  been  here 
and  stood  up  in  their  defence  !  I  make  no  question  but  those  infi- 
dels would  have  apprehended  them,  and  used  them  barbarously. 
Well,  when  all  is  done,  long  live  knight-errantry ;  long  let  it  live,  I 
say,  above  all  things  whatsoever  in  this  world  ! '  —  lAy,  ay,'  said 
Master  Peter  in  a  doleful  tone, '  let  it  live  long  for  me,  so  I  may  die  ; 
for  why  should  I  live  so  unhappy  as  to  say  with  King  Roderigo, 
"  Yesterday  I  was  lord  of  Spain,  to-day  have  not  a  foot  of  land  I 
can  call  mine?"  It  is  not  half  an  hour,  nay  scarce  a  moment, 
since  I  had  kings  and  emperors  at  command.  I  had  horses  in 
abundance,  and  chests  and  bags  full  of  fine  things  ;  but  now  you 
see  me  a  poor  sorry  undone  man,  quite  and  clean  broke  and  cast 
down,  and  in  short  a  mere  beggar.  What  is  worst  of  all,  I  have 
lost  my  ape  too,  who  I  am  sure  will  make  me  sweat  ere  I  catch 
him  again.' " 


THE  hosts  of  Don  Rodrigo  were  scattered  in  dismay, 
When  lost  was  the  eighth  battle,  nor  heart  nor  hope  had  they ;  — 
He,  when  he  saw  that  field  was  lost,  and  all  his  hope  was  flown, 
He  turned  him  from  his  flying  host,  and  took  his  way  alone. 


ii. 

His  horse  was  bleeding,  blind,  and  lame  —  he  could  no  farther  go ; 
Dismounted,  without  path  or  aim,  the  King  stepped  to  and  fro ; 
It  was  a  sight  of  pity  to  look  on  Roderick, 
For,  sore  athirst  and  hungry,  he  staggered  faint  and  sick. 

HI. 

All  stained  and  strewed  with  dust  and  blood,  like  to  some  smoul- 
dering brand 

Plucked  from  the  flame  Rodrigo  shewed  :  —  his  sword  was  in  his 
hand, 

But  it  was  hacked  into  a  saw  of  dark  and  purple  tint ; 

His  jewelled  mail  had  many  a  flaw,  his  helmet  many  a  dint. 


LAMENTATION  OF  DON  RODERICK.  23 

IV. 

He  climbed  unto  a  hill  top,  the  highest  he  could  see, 
Thence  all  about  of  that  wide  route  his  last  long  look  took  he  ; 
He  saw  his  royal  banners,  where  they  lay  drenched  and  torn, 
He  heard  the  cry  of  victory,  the  Arab's  shout  of  scorn. 

v. 

He  looked  for  the  brave  captains  that  had  led  the  hosts  of  Spain, 
But  all  were  fled  except  the  dead,  and  who  could  count  the  slain  ! 
Where'er  his  eye  could  wander,  all  bloody  was  the  plain, 
And  while  thus  he  said,  the  tears  he  shed  run  down  his  cheeks  like 
rain :  — 

VI. 

"  Last  night  I  was  the  King  of  Spain —  to-day  no  king  am  I ; 
Last  night  fair  castles  held  my  train,  to-night  where  shall  I  lie  ? 
Last  night  a  hundred  pages  did  serve  me  on  the  knee  ; 
To-night  not  one  I  call  mine  own  :  —  not  one  pertains  to  me. 

VII. 

"  O  luckless,  luckless  was  the  hour,  and  cursed  was  the  day, 
When  I  was  born  to  have  the  power  of  this  great  signiory  ! 
Unhappy  me,  that  I  should  see  the  sun  go  down  to-night ! 
O  Death,  why  now  so  slow  art  thou,  why  fearest  thou  to  smite  ?  " 


24  THE  PENITENCE   OF  DON  RODERICK, 


THE 


PENITENCE    OF    DON    RODERICK. 


THIS  Ballad  also  is  quoted  in  Don  Quixote.  " '  And  let  me  tell 
you  again,'  quoth  Sancho  Panza  to  the  Duchess,  '  if  you  don't  think 
fit  to  give  me  an  island  because  I  am  a  fool,  I  will  be  so  wise  as  not 
to  care  whether  you  do  or  no.  It  is  an  old  saying,  The  Devil  lurks 
behind  the  cross.  All  is  not  gold  that  glisters.  From  the  tail  of  the 
plough,  Bamba  was  made  King  of  Spain ;  and  from  his  silks  and 
riches,  was  Roderigo  cast  to  be  devoured  by  the  snakes,  if  the  old 
ballads  say  true,  and  sure  they  are  too  old  to  tell  a  lie.'  — '  That 
they  are  indeed,'  said  Donna  Rodriguez,  the  old  waiting-woman, 
who  listened  among  the  rest,  '  for  I  remember  one  of  the  ballads 
tells  us,  how  Don  Rodrigo  was  shut  up  alive  in  a  tomb  full  of  toads, 
snakes,  and  lizards ;  and  how,  after  two  days,  he  was  heard  to  cry 
out  of  the  tomb  in  a  low  and  doleful  voice,  "  Now  they  eat  me,  now 
they  gnaw  me,  in  the  part  where  I  sinned  most."  And  according 
to  this  the  gentleman  is  in  the  right  in  saying  he  had  rather  be  a 
poor  labourer  than  a  king,  to  be  gnawed  to  death  by  vermin.'  " 

Cervantes  would  scarcely  have  made  this  absurd  story  the  subject 
of  conversation  between  any  more  intelligent  personages,  than  San- 
cho Panza  and  the  venerable  Donna  Rodriguez.  Nevertheless, 
there  is  something  very  peculiar  in  the  old  ballad  to  which  these  in- 
terlocutors allude  —  enough,  perhaps,  to  make  it  worth  the  trouble 
of  translation.  There  is  a  little  difference  between  the  ballad,  as  it 
stands  in  the  Cancionero,  and  the  copy  which  Donna  Rodriguez 
quotes ;  but  I  think  the  effect  is  better  when  there  is  only  one 
snake,  than  when  the  tomb  is  full  of  them. 


THE  PENITENCE    OF  DON  RODERICK.  25 


I. 

IT  was  when  the  King  Rodrigo  had  lost  his  realm  of  Spain, 
In  doleful  plight  he  held  his  flight  o'er  Guadalete's  plain ; 
Afar  from  the  fierce  Moslem  he  fain  would  hide  his  wo, 
And  up  among  the  wilderness  of  mountains  he  would  go. 

n. 

There  lay  a  shepherd  by  the  rill,  with  all  his  flock  beside  him  ; 
He  asked  him  where  upon  his  hill  a  weary  man  might  hide  him. 
"  Not  far,"  quoth  he,  "  within  the  wood  dwells  our  old  Eremite ; 
He  in  his  holy  solitude  will  hide  ye  all  the  night."  — 

m. 

"Good  friend,"  quoth  he,  "  I  hunger."  —  "Alas  !"  the  shepherd 

said, 

"  My  scrip  no  more  containeth  but  one  little  loaf  of  bread."  — 
The  weary  King  was  thankful,  the  poor  man's  loaf  he  took, 
He  by  him  sate,  and  while  he  ate,  his  tears  fell  in  the  brook. 

IV. 

From  underneath  his  garment  the  King  unlocked  his  chain, 
A  golden  chain  with  many  a  link,  and  the  royal  ring  of  Spain ; 
He  gave  them  to  the  wondering  man,  and  with  heavy  steps  and 

slow 
He  up  the  wild  his  way  began,  to  the  hermitage  to  go. 

v. 

The  sun  had  just  descended  into  the  western  sea, 
And  the  holy  man  was  sitting  in  the  breeze  beneath  his  tree ; 
"  I  come,  I  come,  good  father,  to  beg  a  boon  from  thee : 
This  night  within  thy  hermitage  give  shelter  unto  me."  — 

VI. 

The  old  man  looked  upon  the  King,  he  scanned  him  o'er  and  o'er ; 
He  looked  with  looks  of  wondering,  he  marvelled  more  and  more ; 
With  blood  and  dust  distained  was  the  garment  that  he  wore, 
And  yet  in  utmost  misery  a  kingly  look  he  bore. 


26  THE  PENITENCE   OF  DON  RODERICK. 

VII. 

"  Who  art  thou,  weary  stranger?    This  path  why  hast  thou  ta'en ?  " 
"  I  am  Rodrigo  ;  —  yesterday  men  called  me  King  of  Spain ; 
I  come  to  make  my  penitence  within  this  lonely  place ; 
Good  father,  take  thou  no  offence,  for  God  and  Mary's  grace."  — 


vm. 

The  hermit  looked  with  fearful  eye  upon  Rodrigo's  face, 

"  Son,  mercy  dwells  with  the  Most  High  —  not  hopeless  is  thy  case 

Thus  far  thou  well  hast  chosen,  I  to  the  Lord  will  pray, 

He  will  reveal  what  penance  may  wash  thy  sin  away." 


DC. 

Now,  God  us  shield  !  it  was  revealed  that  he  his  bed  must  make 
Within  a  tomb,  and  share  its  gloom  with  a  black  and  living  snake. 
Rodrigo  bowed  his  humbled  head  when  God's  command  he  heard, 
And  with  the  snake  prepared  his  bed,  according  to  the  word. 

x. 

The  holy  Hermit  waited  till  the  third  day  was  gone, 

Then  knocked  he  with  his  finger  upon  the  cold  tombstone. 

"  Good  king,  good  king,"  the  Hermit  said,  "  now  an  answer  give 

to  me, 
How  fares  it  with  thy  darksome  bed  and  dismal  company  ?  "  — 

XI. 

"  Good  father,"  said  Rodrigo,  "  the  snake  hath  touched  me  not, 
Pray  for  me,  holy  Hermit,  I  need  thy  prayers,  God  wot ; 
Because  the  Lord  his  anger  keeps,  I  lie  unharmed  here ; 
The  sting  of  earthly  vengeance  sleeps ;  a  worser  pain  I  fear."  — 

xn. 

The  Eremite  his  breast  did  smite  when  thus  he  heard  him  say, 
He  turned  him  to  his  cell ;  that  night  he  loud  and  long  did  pray ; 
At  morning  hour  he  came  again,  then  doleful  moans  heard  he, 
From  out  the  tomb  the  cry  did  come  of  gnawing  misery. 


THE  PENITENCE    OF  DON  RODERICK. 


27 


XIII. 


He  spake,  and  heard  Rodrigo's  voice ;  "  O  Father  Eremite, 
He  eats  me  now,  he  eats  me  now,  I  feel  the  adder's  bite ; 
The  part  that  was  most  sinning  my  bed-fellow  doth  rend, 
There  had  my  curse  beginning,  God  grant  it  there  may  end  1 "  — 


xrv. 


The  holy  man  made  answer  in  words  of  hopeful  strain, 
He  bade  him  trust  the  body's  pang  would  save  the  spirit's  pain. 
Thus  died  the  good  Rodrigo,  thus  died  the  King  of  Spain ; 
Washed  from  offence  his  spirit  hence  to  God  its  flight  hath  ta'en. 


28  MARCH  OF  BERNARDO  DEL    CARPIO. 

THE 

MARCH    OF   BERNARDO    DEL   CARPIO. 


OF  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  we  find  little  or  nothing  in  the  French 
romances  of  Charlemagne.  He  belongs  exclusively  to  Spanish 
History,  or  rather  perhaps  to  Spanish  Romance ;  in  which  the 
honour  is  claimed  for  him  of  slaying  the  famous  Orlando,  or  Roland, 
the  nephew  of  Charlemagne,  in  the  fatal  field  of  Roncesvalles. 

The  continence  which  procured  for  Alonzo,  who  succeeded  to 
the  precarious  throne  of  the  Christians,  in  the  Asturias,  about  795, 
the  epithet  of  the  Chaste,  was  not  universal  in  his  family.  By  an 
intrigue  with  Sancho  Dias,  Count  of  Saldana,  or  Saldenha,  Donna 
Ximena,  sister  of  this  virtuous  prince,  bore  a  son.  Some  historians 
attempt  to  gloss  over  this  incident,  by  alleging  that  a  private  mar- 
riage had  taken  place  between  the  lovers :  but  King  Alphonso, 
who  was  well  nigh  sainted  for  living  only  in  platonic  union  with 
his  wife  Bertha,  took  the  scandal  greatly  to  heart.  He  shut  up 
the  peccant  princess  in  a  cloister,  and  imprisoned  her  gallant  in 
the  castle  of  Luna,  where  he  caused  him  to  be  deprived  of  sight. 
Fortunately,  his  wrath  did  not  extend  to  the  offspring  of  their 
stolen  affections,  the  famous  Bernardo  del  Carpio.  When  the 
youth  had  grown  up  to  manhood,  Alphonso,  according  to  the 
Spanish  chroniclers,  invited  the  Emperor  Charlemagne  into  Spain, 
and  having  neglected  to  raise  up  heirs  for  the  kingdom  of  the 
Goths  in  the  ordinary  manner,  he  proposed  the  inheritance  of  his 
throne  as  the  price  of  the  alliance  of  Charles.  But  the  nobility, 
headed  by  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  remonstrated  against  the  king's 
choice  of  a  successor,  and  would  on  no  account  consent  to  receive 
a  Frenchman  as  heir  of  their  crown.  Alphonso  himself  repented 
of  the  invitation  he  had  given  Charlemagne,  and  when  that  champion 
of  Christendom  came  to  expel  the  Moors  from  Spain,  he  found  the 
conscientious  and  chaste  Alphonso  had  united  with  the  infidels 
against  him.  An  engagement  took  place  in  the  renowned  pass  of 
Roncesvalles,  in  which  the  French  were  defeated,  and  the  cele- 


MARCH  OF  BERNARDO  DEL   CARPIO.  29 

brated  Roland,  or  Orlando,  was  slain.     The  victory  was  ascribed 
chiefly  to  the  prowess  of  Bernardo  del  Carpio. 

The  following  Ballad  describes  the  enthusiasm  excited  among 
the  Leonese,  when  Bernard  first  raised  his  standard  to  oppose  the 
progress  of  Charlemagne's  army. 


WITH  three  thousand  men  of  Leon,  from  the  city  Bernard  goes, 
To  protect  the  soil  Hispanian  from  the  spear  of  Prankish  foes ; 
From  the  city  which  is  planted  in  the  midst  between  the  seas, 
To  preserve  the  name  and  glory  of  old  Pelayo's  victories. 

n. 

The  peasant  hears  upon  his  field  the  trumpet  of  the  knight, 
He  quits  his  team  for  spear  and  shield,  and  garniture  of  might ; 
The  shepherd  hears  it  'mid  the  mist  —  he  flingeth  down  his  crook, 
And  rushes  from  the  mountain  like  a  tempest-troubled  brook. 

in. 

The  youth  who  shews  a  maiden's  chin,  whose  brows  have  ne'er 

been  bound 

The  helmet's  heavy  ring  within,  gains  manhood  from  the  sound ; 
The  hoary  sire  beside  the  fire  forgets  his  feebleness, 
Once  more  to  feel  the  cap  of  steel  a  warrior's  ringlets  press. 

IV. 

As  through  the  glen  his  spears  did  gleam,  these  soldiers  from  the 

hills, 

They  swelled  his  host,  as  mountain-stream  receives  the  roaring  rills  ; 
They  round  his  banner  flocked,  in  scorn  of  haughty  Charlemagne, 
And  thus  upon  their  swords  are  sworn  the  faithful  sons  of  Spain. 

v. 

"  Free  were  we  born,"  'tis  thus  they  cry,  "  though  to  our  King  we 

owe 

The  homage  and  the  fealty  behind  his  crest  to  go ; 
By  God's  behest  our  aid  he  shares,  but  God  did  ne'er  command 
That  we  should  leave  our  children  heirs  of  an  enslaved  land. 


30 


MARCH   OF  BERNARDO  DEL    CARPIO. 


VI. 


"  Our  breasts  are  not  so  timorous,  nor  are  our  arms  so  weak, 
Nor  are  our  veins  so  bloodless,  that  we  our  vow  should  break, 
To  sell  our  freedom  for  the  fear  of  Prince  or  Paladin,  — 
At  least  we'll  sell  our  birthright  dear,  no  bloodless  prize  they'll  win. 


VII. 


"  At  least  King  Charles,  if  God  decrees  he  must  be  lord  of  Spain, 
Shall  witness  that  the  Leonese  were  not  aroused  in  vain ; 
He  shall  bear  witness  that  we  died,  as  lived  our  sires  of  old, 
Nor  only  of  Numantium's  pride  shall  minstrel  tales  be  told. 

VIII. 

"  The  LION  l  that  hath  bathed  his  paws  in  seas  of  Libyan  gore, 
Shall  he  not  battle  for  the  laws  and  liberties  of  yore  ? 
Anointed  cravens  may  give  gold  to  whom  it  likes  them  well, 
But  steadfast  heart  and  spirit  bold  Alphonso  ne'er  shall  sell." 

1  The  arms  of  Leon. 


COMPLAINT  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA.  31 

THE 

COMPLAINT  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA. 


[This  Ballad  is  intended  to  represent  the  feelings  of  Don  Sancho,  Count  of 
Saldenha,  or  Saldafia,  while  imprisoned  by  King  Alphonso,  and,  as  he  sup- 
posed, neglected  and  forgotten,  both  by  his  wife,  or  rather  mistress,  Donna 
Ximena,  and  by  his  son,  the  famous  Bernardo  del  Carpio.] 


THE  Count  Don  Sancho  Diaz,  the  Signior  of  Saldane, 
Lies  weeping  in  his  prison,  for  he  cannot  refrain  :  — 
King  Alphonso  and  his  sister,  of  both  doth  he  complain, 
But  most  of  bold  Bernardo,  the  champion  of  Spain. 

n. 

"  The  weary  years  I  durance  brook,  how  many  they  have  been, 
When  on  these  hoary  hairs  I  look,'  may  easily  be  seen ; 
When  they  brought  me  to  this  castle,  my  curls  were  black,  I  ween, 
Wo  worth  the  day  !  they  have  grown  grey  these  rueful  walls  between. 

in. 

"  They  tell  me  my  Bernardo  is  the  doughtiest  lance  in  Spain, 
But  if  he  were  my  loyal  heir,  there's  blood  in  every  vein 
Whereof  the  voice  his  heart  would  hear — his  hand  would  not  gain- 
say;— 

Though  the  blood  of  kings  be  mixed  with  mine,  it  would  not  have 
all  the  sway. 

rv. 

"  Now  all  the  three  have  scorn  ot  me — unhappy  man  am  I ! 

They  leave  me  without  pity —  they  leave  me  here  to  die. 

A  stranger's  feud,  albeit  rude,  were  little  dole  or  care, 

But  he's  my  own,  both  flesh  and  bone ;  —  his  scorn  is  ill  to  bear. 


32  COMPLAINT  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA. 

V. 

"  From  Jailer  and  from  Castellain  I  hear  of  hardiment 
And  chivalry  in  listed  plain  on  joust  and  tourney  spent ;  — 
I  hear  of  many  a  battle,  in  which  thy  spear  is  red, 
But  help  from  thee  comes  none  to  me  where  I  am  ill  bested. 


VI. 

"  Some  villain  spot  is  in  thy  blood  to  mar  its  gentle  strain, 
Else  would  it  shew  forth  hardihood  for  him  from  whom  'twas  ta'en  ; 
Thy  hope  is  young,  thy  heart  is  strong,  but  yet  a  day  may  be, 
When  thou  shalt  weep  in  dungeon  deep,  and  none  thy  weeping  see." 


FUNERAL   OF  THE   COUNT  OF  SALDEX11A.  33 

THE 

FUNERAL  OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA. 


THE  ballads  concerning  Bernardo  del  Carpio  are,  upon  the  whole, 
in  accordance  with  his  history  as  given  in  the  Coronica  General. 
According  to  the  chronicle,  Bernardo  being  at  last  wearied  out  of 
all  patience  by  the  cruelty  of  which  his  father  was  the  victim,  de- 
termined to  quit  the  court  of  his  King,  and  seek  an  alliance  among 
the  Moors.  Having  fortified  himself  in  the  Castle  of  Carpio,  he 
made  continual  incursions  into  the  territory  of  Leon,  pillaging  and 
plundering  wherever  he  came.  The  King  at  length  besieged  him  in 
his  stronghold,  but  the  defence  was  so  gallant,  that  there  appeared  no 
prospect  of  success  ;  whereupon  many  of  the  gentlemen  in  Alphonso's 
camp  entreated  the  King  to  offer  Bernardo  immediate  possession  of 
his  father's  person,  if  he  would  surrender  his  castle. 

Bernardo  at  once  consented ;  but  the  King  gave  orders  to  have 
Count  Sancho  Diaz  taken  off  instantly  in  his  prison.  "When  he 
was  dead  they  clothed  him  in  splendid  attire,  mounted  him  on  horse- 
back, and  so  led  him  towards  Salamanca,  where  his  son  was  expect- 
ing his  arrival.  As  they  drew  nigh  the  city,  the  King  and  Bernardo 
rode  out  to  meet  them  ;  and  when  Bernardo  saw  his  father  approach- 
ing, he  exclaimed,  —  'O,  God  !  is  the  Count  of  Saldana  indeed  com- 
ing?'  — '  Look  where  he  is,'  replied  the  cruel  King ;  '  and  now  go 
and  greet  him  whom  you  have  so  long  desired  to  see.'  Bernardo 
•.vent  forward  and  took  his  father's  hand  to  kiss  it ;  but  when  he 
felt  the  dead  weight  of  the  hand,  and  saw  the  livid  face  of  the 
corpse,  he  cried  aloud,  and  said,  — '  Ah,  Don  Sandiaz,  in  an  evil 
hour  didst  thou  beget  me  !  —  Thou  art  dead,  and  I  have  given  my 
stronghold  for  thee,  and  now  I  have  lost  all.' " 


ALL  in  the  centre  of  the  choir  Bernardo's  knees  are  bent, 
Before  him  for  his  murdered  sire  yawns  the  old  monument. 


34  FUNERAL   OF  THE  COUNT  OF  SALDENHA. 

II. 

His  kinsmen  of  the  Carpio  blood  are  kneeling  at  his  back, 

With  knightly  friends  and  vassals  good,  all  garbed  in  weeds  of  black. 

in. 

He  comes  to  make  the  obsequies  of  a  basely  slaughtered  man, 
And  tears  are  running  down  from  eyes  whence  ne'er  before  they  ran. 

IV. 

His  head  is  bowed  upon  the  stone ;  his  heart,  albeit  full  sore, 

Is  strong  as  when  in  days  by-gone  he  rode  o'er  Frank  and  Moor ; 

v. 

And  now  between  his  teeth  he  mutters,  that  none  his  words  can 

hear ; 
And  now  the  voice  of  wrath  he  utters,  in  curses  loud  and  clear. 

VI. 

He  stoops  him  o'er  his  father's  shroud,  his  lips  salute  the  bier ; 
He  communes  with  the  corse  aloud,  as  if  none  else  were  near. 

VII. 

« 

His  right  hand  doth  his  sword  unsheath,  his  left  doth  pluck  his 

beard  ;  — 
And  while  his  liegemen  held  their  breath,  these  were  the  words 

they  heard  :  — 

VIII. 

"  Go  up,  go  up,  thou  blessed  ghost,  into  the  arms  of  God ; 

Go,  fear  not  lest  revenge  be  lost,  when  Carpio's  blood  hath  flowed  ; 

IX. 

"  The  steel  that  drank  the  blood  of  France,  the  arm  thy  foe  that 

shielded, 
Still,  Father,  thirsts  that  burning  lance,  and  still  thy  son  can  wield 

it." 


BERNARDO  AND  ALPHONSO.  35 


BERNARDO    AND    ALPHONSO. 


[The  incident  recorded  in  this  ballad  may  be  supposed  to  have  occurred 
immediately  after  the  funeral  of  the  Count  of  Saldenha.  As  to  what  was  the 
end  of  the  knight's  history,  we  are  left  almost  entirely  in  tke  dark,  both  by 
the  Chronicle  and  by  the  Romancero.  It  appears  to  be  intimated,  that  after 
his  father's  death,  he  once  more  "  took  service  "  among  the  Moors,  who  are 
represented  in  several  of  the  ballads  as  accustomed  to  exchange  offices  of 
courtesy  with  Bernardo.] 


WITH  some  good  ten  of  his  chosen  men,  Bernardo  hath  appeared 
Before  them  all  in  the  palace  hall,  the  lying  King  to  beard ; 
With  cap  in  hand  and  eye  on  ground,  he  came  in  reverend  guise, 
But  ever  and  anon  he  frowned,  and  flame  broke  from  his  eyes. 

n. 

"A  curse  upon  thee,"  cries  the  King,  "who  comest  unbid  to  me; 
But  what  from  traitor's  blood  should  spring,  save  traitors  like  to 

thee? 
His  sire,  Lords,  had  a  traitor's  heart :  perchance  our  Champion 

brave 
Make  think  it  were  a  pious  part  to  share  Don  Sancho's  grave." 

in. 

"  Whoever  told  this  tale  the  King  hath  rashness  to  repeat," 
Cries  Bernard,  "  here  my  gage  I  fling  before  THE  LIAR'S  feet ! 
No  treason  was  in  Sancho's  blood,  no  stain  in  mine  doth  lie  — 
Below  the  throne  what  knight  will  own  the  coward  calumny? 

IV. 

"  The  blood  that  I  like  water  shed,  when  Roland  did  advance, 
By  secret  traitors  hired  and  led,  to  make  us  slaves  of  France ;  — 


36  BERNARDO  AND  ALrilONSO. 

The  life  of  King  Alphonso  I  saved  at  Roncesval,  — 

Your  words,  Lord  King,  are  recompence  abundant  for  it  all. 


v. 

"  Your  horse  was  down  —  your  hope  was  flown  —  I  saw  the  falchion 

shine, 

That  soon  had  drunk  your  royal  blood,  had  I  not  ventured  mine  ; 
But  memory  soon  of  service  done  deserteth  the  ingrate, 
And  ye've  thanked  the  son  for  life  and  crown  by  the  father's 

bloody  fate. 

VI. 

"  Ye  swore  upon  your  kingly  faith,  to  set  Don  Sancho  free, 
But  curse  upon  your  paltering  breath,  the  light  he  ne'er  did  see  ; 
He  died  in  dungeon  cold  and  dim,  by  Alphonso's  base  decree, 
And  visage  blind,  and  stiffened  limb,  were  all  they  gave  to  me. 


VII. 

"  The  King  that  swerveth  from  his  word  hath  stained  his  purple 

black, 

No  Spanish  Lord  will  draw  the  sword  behind  a  Liar's  back ; 
But  noble  vengeance  shall  be  mine,  an  open  hate  I'll  shew  — 
The  King  hath  injured  Carpio's  line,  and  Bernard  is  his  foe."  - 


VIII. 

"  Seize  —  seize  him  ! "  —  loud  the  King  doth  scream  —  "  There  are 

a  thousand  here  — 

Let  his  foul  blood  this  instant  stream — What !  Caitiffs,  do  ye  fear? 
Seize  —  seize  the  traitor  ! "  —  But  not  one  to  move  a  finger  dareth, — 
Bernardo  standeth  by  the  throne,  and  calm  his  sword  he  bareth. 


IX. 

He  drew  the  falchion  from  the  sheath,  and  held  it  up  on  high, 
And  all  the  hall  was  still  as  death  :  —  cries  Bernard,  "  Here  am  I, 
And  here  is  the  sword  that  owns  no  lord,  excepting  heaven  and  me  ; 
Fain  would  I  know  who  dares  his  point  —  King,  Conde,  or  Gran- 
dee." 


BERNARDO  AND  ALPHONSO, 


37 


x. 


Then  to  his  mouth  the  horn  he  drew —  (it  hung  below  his  cloak) 
His  ten  true  men  the  signal  knew,  and  through  the  ring  they  broke  ; 
With  helm  on  head,  and  blade  in  hand,  the  knights  the  circle  brake, 
And  back  the  lordlings  'gan  to  stand,  and  the  false  king  to  quake. 


XI. 


"Ha  !  Bernard,"  quoth  Alphonso,  "what  means  this  warlike  guise? 
Ye  know  full  well  I  jested  —  ye  know  your  worth  I  prize."  — 
But  Bernard  turned  upon  his  heel,  and  smiling  passed  away  — 
Long  rued  Alphonso  and  his  realm  the  jesting  of  that  day. 


38  THE  MAIDEN  TRIBUTE. 


THE   MAIDEN   TRIBUTE. 


THE  reign  of  King  Ramiro  was  short,  but  glorious.  He  had  not 
been  many  months  seated  on  the  throne,  when  Abderahman,  the 
second  of  that  name,  sent  a  formal  embassy  to  demand  payment 
of  an  odious  and  ignominious  tribute,  which  had  been  agreed  to 
in  the  days  of  former  and  weaker  princes,  but  which,  it  should 
seem,  had  not  been  exacted  by  the  Moors  while  such  men  as 
Bernardo  del  Carpio,  and  Alphonso  the  Great,  headed  the  forces 
of  the  Christians.  This  tribute  was  a  Jut nd red  virgins  per  annum. 
King  Ramiro  refused  compliance,  and  marched  to  meet  the  army 
of  Abderahman.  The  battle  was  fought  near  Albayda  (or  Alveida), 
and  lasted  for  two  entire  days.  On  the  first  day,  the  superior 
discipline  of  the  Saracen  chivalry  had  nearly  accomplished  a 
complete  victory,  when  the  approach  of  night  separated  the  com- 
batants. During  the  night,  Saint  lago  stood  in  a  vision  before  the 
King,  and  promised  to  be  with  him  next  morning  in  the  field. 
Accordingly  the  warlike  apostle  made  his  appearance,  mounted  on 
a  milk-white  charger,  and  armed  cap-a-pee  in  radiant  mail,  like  a 
true  knight.  The  Moors  sustained  a  signal  defeat,  and  the  Maiden 
Tribute  was  never  afterwards  paid,  although  often  enough  de- 
manded. Such  is,  in  substance,  the  story,  as  narrated  by  Mariana 
(see  Book  vii.  chap.  13),  who  fixes  the  date  of  the  battle  of 
Alveida  in  the  year  eight  hundred  and  forty-four,  being  the  second 
year  after  the  accession  of  King  Ramiro. 

Mr.  Southey  says,  that  there  is  no  mention  of  this  battle  of 
Alveida  in  the  three  authors  who  lived  nearest  the  time ;  but  adds, 
that  the  story  of  Santiago's  making  his  first  appearance  in  a  field 
of  battle  on  the  Christian  side,  is  related  at  length  by  King  Ramiro 
himself,  in  a  charter  granting  a  perpetual  tribute  of  wine,  corn, 
etc.,  to  the  Church  of  Compostella.  Mr.  Southey  says,  that  the 
only  old  ballad  he  has  seen  in  the  Portuguese  language,  is  founded 
upon  a  story  of  a  Maiden  Tribute.  —  See  Chronicle  of  ike  Cid. 


THE  MAIDEN  TRIBUTE.  39 


THE  noble  King  Ramiro  within  the  chamber  sate, 
One  day,  with  all  his  barons,  in  council  and  debate, 
When,  without  leave  or  guidance  of  usher  or  of  groom, 
There  came  a  comely  maiden  into  the  council-room. 


ii. 

She  was  a  comely  maiden  —  she  was  surpassing  fair, 
All  loose  upon  her  shoulders  hung  down  her  golden  hair ; 
From  head  to  foot  her  garments  were  white  as  white  may  be  ; 
And  while  they  gazed  in  silence,  thus  in  the  midst  spake  she. 


in. 

"  Sir  King,  I  crave  your  pardon,  if  I  have  done  amiss 
In  venturing  before  ye,  at  such  an  hour  as  this  ; 
But  I  will  tell  my  story,  and  when  my  words  ye  hear, 
I  look  for  praise  and  honour,  and  no  rebuke  I  fear. 


IV. 

"  I  know  not  if  I'm  bounden  to  call  thee  by  the  name 
Of  Christian,  King  Ramiro  ;  for  though  thou  dost  not  claim 
A  heathen  realm's  allegiance,  a  heathen  sure  thou  art, 
Beneath  a  Spaniard's  mantle  thou  hidest  a  Moorish  heart. 


v. 

"  For  he  who  gives  the  Moor- King  a  hundred  maids  of  Spain, 
Each  year  when  in  its  season  the  day  comes  round  again ; 
If  he  be  not  a  heathen,  he  swells  the  heathen's  train  — 
Twere  better  burn  a  kingdom  than  suffer  such  disdain. 

VI. 

"  If  the  Moslem  must  have  tribute,  make  men  your  tribute-money, 
Send  idle  drones  to  teaze  them  within  their  hives  of  honey ; 
For  when  'tis  paid  with  maidens,  from  every  maid  there  spring 
Some  five  or  six  strong  soldiers,  to  serve  the  Moorish  King. 


THE  MAIDEN  TRIBUTE. 


VII. 


"  It  is  but  little  wisdom  to  keep  our  men  at  home, 
They  serve  but  to  get  damsels,  who,  when  their  day  is  come, 
Must  go,  like  all  the  others,  the  proud  Moor's  bed  to  sleep  in  — 
In  all  the  rest  they're  useless,  and  nowise  worth  the  keeping. 


VIII. 


"  And  if  'tis  fear  of  battle  that  makes  ye  bow  so  low, 
And  suffer  such  dishonour  from  God  our  Saviour's  foe,  — 
I  pray  you,  sirs,  take  warning,  —  ye'll  have  as  good  a  fright, 
If  e'er  the  Spanish  damsels  arise  themselves  to  right. 


IX. 


"  'Tis  we  have  manly  courage,  within  the  breasts  of  women, 
But  ye  are  all  hare-hearted,  both  gentlemen  and  yeomen."  — 
Thus  spake  that  fearless  maiden ;  I  wot  when  she  was  done, 
Uprose  the  King  Ramiro  and  his  nobles  every  one. 


x. 


The  King  call'd  God  to  witness,  that,  come  there  weal  or  woe, 
Thenceforth  no  maiden-tribute  from  out  Castile  should  go ;  — 
"  At  least  I  will  do  battle  on  God  our  Saviour's  foe, 
And  die  beneath  my  banner  before  I  see  it  so."  — 


XI. 


A  cry  went  through  the  mountains  when  the  proud  Moor  drew  near, 
And  trooping  to  Ramiro  came  every  Christian  spear ; 
The  blessed  Saint  lago,  they  called  upon  his  name ;  — 
That  day  began  our  freedom,  and  wiped  away  our  shame. 


ESCAPE   OF  COUNT  PER  NAN  GONSALEZ.  41 

THE 

ESCAPE   OF    COUNT   EERNAN    GONSALEZ. 


THK  story  of  Fernan  Gonsalez  is  detailed  in  the  Chronica  Antiqua 
de  Espana,  with  so  many  romantic  circumstances,  that  certain 
modern  critics  have  been  inclined  to  consider  it  as  entirely  fabu- 
lous. Of  the  main  facts  recorded,  there  seems,  however,  to  be  no 
good  reason  to  doubt ;  and  it  is  quite  certain,  that  from  the  earli- 
est times,  the  name  of  Fernan  Gonsalez  has  been  held  in  the  high- 
est honour  by  the  Spaniards  themselves,  of  every  degree.  He  lived 
at  the  beginning  of  the  loth  century.  It  was  under  his  rule,  ac- 
cording to  the  chronicles,  that  Castile  first  became  an  independent 
Christian  state,  and  it  was  by  his  exertions  that  the  first  foundations 
were  laid  of  that  system  of  warfare,  by  which  the  Moorish  power  in 
Spain  was  at  last  overthrown. 

He  was  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a  wife  as  heroic  as  himself,  and 
both  in  the  chronicles,  and  in  the,  ballads,  abundant  justice  is  done 
to  her  merits. 

She  twice  rescued  Fernan  Gonsalez  from  confinement,  at  the  risk 
of  her  own  life.  He  had  asked  her  hand  in  marriage  of  her  father, 
Garcias,  King  of  Navarre,  and  had  proceeded  so  far  on  his  way  to 
that  prince's  court,  when  he  was  seized  and  cast  into  a  dungeon, 
in  consequence  of  the  machinations  of  his  enemy,  the  Queen  of 
Leon,  sister  to  the  King  of  Navarre.  Sancha,  the  young  princess, 
whose  alliance  he  had  solicited,  being  informed  of  the  cause  of  his 
journey,  and  of  the  sufferings  to  which  it  had  exposed  him,  deter- 
mined, at  all  hazards,  to  effect  his  liberation ;  and  having  done  so 
by  bribing  his  jailer,  she  accompanied  his  flight  to  Castile. 

Many  years  after,  he  fell  into  an  ambush  prepared  for  him  by  the 
same  implacable  enemy,  and  was  again  a  fast  prisoner  in  Leon. 
His  Countess  feigning  a  pilgrimage  to  St.  James  of  Compostella, 
obtained  leave,  in  the  first  place,  to  pass  through  the  hostile  terri- 
tory, and  afterwards,  in  the  course  of  her  progress,  permission  to 
pass  one  night  in  the  castle  where  her  husband  was  confined.  She 


42  ESCAPE   OF  COUNT  FEKNA.\'  GOXSALEZ. 

exchanged  clothes  with  him;  and  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  pass  in 
his  disguise  through  the  guards  who  attended  on  him  —  his  cour- 
ageous wife  remaining  in  his  place  —  exactly  in  the  same  manner 
in  which  the  Countess  of  Nithsdale  effected  the  escape  of  her  lord 
from  the  Tower  of  London,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1715. 

There  is,  as  might  be  supposed,  a  whole  body  of  old  ballads,  con- 
cerning the  adventures  of  Fernan  Gonsalez.  I  shall,  as  a  specimen, 
translate  one  of  the  shortest  of  these,  —  that  in  which  the  first  of 
his  romantic  escapes  is  described. 


THEY  have  carried  afar  into  Navarre  the  great  Count  of  Castile, 
And  they  have  bound  him  sorely,  they  have  bound  him  hand  and 

heel; 

The  tidings  up  the  mountains  go,  and  down  among  the  valleys, 
"  To  the  rescue  !  to  the  rescue,  ho  !  they  have  ta'en  Fernan  Gon- 
salez." — 

A  noble  knight  of  Normandy  was  riding  through  Navarre, 
For  Christ  his  hope  he  came  to  cope  with  the  Moorish  scymitar ; 
To  the  Alcayde  of  the  Tower,  in  secret  thus  said  he, 
"  These  bezaunts  fair  with  thee  I'll  share,  so  I  this  lord  may 
see."  — 

The  Alcayde'  was  full  joyful,  he  took  the  gold  full  soon, 

And  he  brought  him  to  the  dungeon,  ere  the  rising  of  the  moon ; 

He  let  him  out  at  morning,  at  the  grey  light  of  the  prime, 

But  many  words  between  these  lords  had  passed  within  that  time. 

The  Norman  knight  rides  swiftly,  for  he  hath  made  him  bowne 
To  a  king  that  is  full  joyous,  and  to  a  feastful  town ; 
For  there  is  joy  and  feasting,  because  that  lord  is  ta'en,  — 
King  Garci  in  his  dungeon  holds  the  doughtiest  lord  in  Spain. 

The  Norman  feasts  among  the  guests,  but  at  the  evening  tide 
He  speaks  to  Garci's  daughter,  within  her  bower  aside  ; 
"  Now  God  forgive  us,  lady,  and  God  his  mother  dear, 
For  on  a  day  of  sorrow  we  have  been  blythe  of  cheer. 


ESCAPE   OF  COUNT  FEKNAN  GONZALEZ.  43 

"  The  Moors  may  well  be  joyful,  but  great  should  be  our  grief, 
For  Spain  has  lost  her  guardian,  when  Castile  has  lost  her  chief ; 
The  Moorish  host  is  pouring  like  a  river  o'er  the  land, 
Curse  on  the  Christian  fetters  that  bind  Gonsalez'  hand  ! 

"  Gonsalez  loves  thee,  lady,  he  loved  thee  long  ago, 

But  little  is  the  kindness  that  for  his  love  you  show ; 

The  curse  that  lies  on  Caba's l  head,  it  may  be  shared  by  thee  — 

Arise,  let  love  with  love  be  paid,  and  set  Gonsalez  free."  — 

The  lady  answered  little,  but  at  the  mirk  of  night, 
When  all  her  maids  are  sleeping,  she  hath  risen  and  ta'en  her  flight ; 
She  hath  tempted  the  Alcayde"  with  her  jewels  and  her  gold, 
And  unto  her  his  prisoner  that  jailer  false  hath  sold. 

She  took  Gonsalez  by  the  hand  at  the  dawning  of  the  day, 
She  said,  "  Upon  the  heath  you  stand,  before  you  lies  your  way ; 
But  if  I  to  my  father  go,  alas  !  what  must  I  do  ? 
My  father  will  be  angry  —  I  fain  would  go  with  you."  — 

He  hath  kissed  the  Infanta,  he  hath  kissed  her,  brow  and  cheek, 

And  lovingly  together  the  forest  path  they  seek ; 

Till  in  the  greenwood  hunting  they  met  a  lordly  priest, 

With  his  bugle  at  his  girdle,  and  his  hawk  upon  his  wrist. 

"  Now  stop  !  now  stop  ! "  the  priest  he  said  (he  knew  them  both 

right  well), 

'•  Now  stop,  and  pay  your  ransom,  or  I  your  flight  will  tell ; 
Now  stop,  thou  fair  Infanta,  for  if  my  words  you  scorn, 
I'll  give  warning  to  the  foresters  with  the  blowing  of  my  horn."  — 


The  base  priest's  word  Gonsalez  heard,  "  Now,  by  the  rood  ! " 

quoth  he, 

"  A  hundred  deaths  I'll  suffer,  or  ere  this  thing  shall  be."  — 
But  in  his  ear  she  whispered,  she  whispered  soft  and  slow, 
And  to  the  priest  she  beckoned  within  the  wood  to  go. 

1  Caba,  or  Cava,  the  unfortunate  daughter  of  Count  Julian.  No  child  in 
Spain  was  ever  christened  by  that  ominous  name  after  the  downfall  of  the 
Gothic  kingdom- 


44  ESCAPE    OF  COUNT  FERNAN  GONSALEZ. 

It  was  ill  with  Count  Gonsalez,  the  fetters  pressed  his  knees, 
Yet  as  he  could  he  followed  within  the  shady  trees  — 
"  For  help,  for  help,  Gonsalez  !  —  for  help,"  he  hears  her  cry, 
"  God  aiding,  fast  I'll  hold  thee,  until  my  lord  come  nigh." 

He  has  come  within  the  thicket,  there  lay  they  on  the  green, 
And  he  has  plucked  from  off  the  grass  the  false  priest's  javelin  ; 
Firm  by  the  throat  she  held  him  bound,  down  went  the  weapon 

sheer, 
Down  through  his  body  to  the  ground,  even  as  the  boar  ye  spear. 

They  wrapped  him  in  his  mantle,  and  left  him  there  to  bleed, 
And  all  that  day  they  held  their  way ;  his  palfrey  served  their 

need;  — 
Till  to  their  ears  a  sound  did  come,  might  fill  their  hearts  with 

dread, 
A  steady  whisper  on  the  breeze,  and  horsemen's  heavy  tread. 

The  Infanta  trembled  in  the  wood,  but  forth  the  Count  did  go, 
And,  gazing  wide,  a  troop  descried  upon  the  bridge  below ; 
"  Gramercy  !  "  quoth  Gonsalez  —  "  or  else  my  sight  is  gone, 
Methinks  I  know  the  pennon  yon  sun  is  shining  on. 

"  Come  forth,  come  forth,  Infanta,  mine  own  true  men  they  be, 
Come  forth,  and  see  my  banner,  and  cry  Castile !  with  me  : 
My  merry  men  draw  near  me,  I  see  my  pennon  shine, 
Their  swords  shine  bright,  Infanta,  and  every  blade  is  thine." 


THE   SEVEN  HEADS.  45 


THE   SEVEN    HEADS. 


"  IT  was  in  the  following  year  (nine  hundred  and  eighty-six), 
that  the  seven  most  noble  brothers,  commonly  called  the  INFANTS 
OF  LARA,  were  slain  by  the  treachery  of  Ruy  Velasquez,  who  was 
their  uncle,  for  they  were  the  sons  of  his  sister,  Donna  Sancha. 
By  the  father's  side,  they  were  sprung  from  the  Counts  of  Castile, 
through  the  Count  Don  Diego  Porcellos.  From  whose  daughter, 
as  has  been  narrated  above,  and  Nuiio  Pelchides,  there  came  two 
sons,  namely,  Nuno  Rasura,  great-grandfather  of  the  Count  Garci 
Fernandez,  and  Gustio  Gonzalez.  The  last-named  gentleman  was 
father  of  GONZALO  GUSTIO,  Lord  of  Salas  of  Lara;  and  his  sons 
were  those  seven  brothers  famous  in  the  history  of  Spain,  not 
more  by  reason  of  their  deeds  of  prowess,  than  of  the  disastrous 
death  which  was  their  fortune.  They  were  all  knighted  in  the 
same  day  by  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  according  to  the  fashion 
which  prevailed  in  those  days,  and-  more  especially  in  Spain. 

"  Now  it  happened  that  Ruy  Velasquez,  Lord  of  Villaren,  cele- 
brated his  nuptials  in  Burgos  with  Donna  Lambra,  a  lady  of  very 
high  birth,  from  the  country  of  Briviesca,  and  indeed  a  cousin- 
german  to  the  Count  Garci  Fernandez  himself.  The  feast  was 
splendid,  and  great  was  the  concourse  of  principal  gentry ;  and 
among  others  were  present  the  Count  Garci  Fernandez,  and  those 
seven  brothers,  with  Gonzalo  Gustio,  their  father. 

"  From  some  trivial  occasion,  there  arose  a  quarrel  between 
Gonzalez,  the  youngest  of  the  seven  brothers,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  a  relation  of  Donna  Lambra,  by  name  Alvar  Sanchez,  on  the 
other,  without,  however,  any  very  serious  consequences  at  the 
time.  But  Donna  Lambra  conceived  herself  to  have  been  in- 
sulted by  the  quarrel,  and  in  order  to  revenge  herself,  when  the 
seven  brothers  were  come  as  far  as  Barvadiello,  riding  in  her  train, 
the  more  to  do  her  honour,  she  ordered  one  of  her  slaves  to  throw 
at  Gonzalez  a  wild  cucumber  soaked  in  blood,  a  heavy  insult  and 
outrage,  according  to  the  then  existing  customs  and  opinions  in 


46  THE   SEVEN  HEADS. 

Spain.  The  slave,  having  done  as  he  was  bid,  fled  for  protection 
to  his  lady,  Donna  Lambra ;  but  that  availed  him  nothing,  for  they 
slew  him  within  the  very  folds  of  her  garment. 

"  RUY  VELASQUEZ,  who  did  not  witness  these  things  with  his 
own  eyes,  no  sooner  returned,  than,  filled  with  wrath  on  account 
of  this  slaughter,  and  of  the  insult  to  his  bride,  he  began  to  devise 
how  he  might  avenge  himself  of  the  seven  brothers. 

"With  semblances  of  peace  and  friendship,  he  concealed  his 
mortal  hatred  ;  and,  after  a  time,  Gonzalo  Gustio,  the  father,  was 
sent  by  him,  suspecting  nothing,  to  Cordova.  The  pretence  was 
to  bring  certain  monies  which  had  been  promised  to  Ruy  Velas- 
quez by  the  barbarian  king,  but  the  true  purpose,  that  he  might  be 
put  to  death  at  a  distance  from  his  own  country ;  for  Ruy  Velas- 
quez asked  the  Moor  to  do  this  in  letters  written  in  the  Arabic 
tongue,  of  which  Gonzalo  was  made  the  bearer.  The  Moor,  how- 
ever, whether  moved  to  have  compassion  on  the  grey  hairs  of  so 
principal  a  gentleman,  or  desirous  of  at  least  making  a  shew  of 
humanity,  did  not  slay  Gonzalo,  but  contented  himself  with  im- 
prisoning him.  Nor  was  his  durance  of  the  strictest,  for  a  certain 
sister  of  the  Moorish  King  found  ingress,  and  held  communication 
with  him  there ;  and  from  that  conversation,  it  is  said,  sprung 
MUDARRA  GONZALEZ,  author  and  founder  of  that  most  noble  Span- 
ish lineage  of  the  MANRIQUES. 

"  But  the  fierce  spirit  of  Ruy  Velasquez  was  not  satisfied  with 
the  tribulations  of  Gonzalo  Gustio  ;  he  carried  his  rage  still  farther. 
Pretending  to  make  an  incursion  into  the  Moorish  country,  he  led 
into  an  ambuscade  the  seven  brothers,  who  had  as  yet  conceived 
no  thought  of  his  treacherous  intentions.  It  is  true  that  Nuno 
Sallido,  their  grandfather,  had  cautioned  them  with  many  warn- 
ings, for  he  indeed  suspected  the  deceit ;  but  it  was  in  vain,  for  so 
God  willed  or  permitted.  They  had  some  two  hundred  horsemen 
with  them,  of  their  vassals,  but  these  were  nothing  against  the 
great  host  of  Moors  that  set  upon  them  from  the  ambuscade  ;  and 
although  when  they  found  how  it  was,  they  acquitted  themselves 
like  good  gentlemen,  and  slew  many,  they  could  accomplish  noth- 
ing except  making  the  victory  dear  to  their  enemies.  They  were 
resolved  to  avoid  the  shame  of  captivity,  and  were  all  slain,  to- 
gether with  their  grandfather  Sallido.  Their  heads  were  sent  to 
Cordova,  an  agreeable  present  to  that  king,  but  a  sight  of  misery 
to  their  aged  father,  who,  being  brought  into  the  place  where  they 
were,  recognised  them  in  spite  of  the  dust  and  blood  with  which 
they  were  disfigured.  It  is  true,  nevertheless,  that  he  derived 


THE   SEVEN  HEADS.  47 

some  benefit  therefrom  ;  for  the  king,  out  of  the  compassion  which 
he  felt,  set  him  at  liberty  to  depart  to  his  own  country. 

"  Mudarra,  the  son  born  to  Gonzalo  (out  of  wedlock)  by  the 
sister  of  the  Moor,  when  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  was  prevailed  on  by  his  mother  to  go  in  search  of  his  father ; 
and  he  it  was  that  avenged  the  death  of  his  seven  brothers,  by 
slaying  with  his  own  hand  Ruy  Velasquez,  the  author  of  that  ca- 
lamity. Donna  .Lambra  likewise,  who  had  been  the  original  cause 
of  all  those  evils,  was  stoned  to  death  by  him  and  burnt. 

"  By  this  vengeance  which  he  took  for  the  murder  of  his  seven 
brothers,  he  so  won  to  himself  the  good-liking  of  his  step-mother 
Donna  Sancha,  and  of  all  the  kindred,  that  he  was  received  and 
acknowledged  as  heir  to  the  Signiories  of  his  father.  Donna 
Sancha  herself  adopted  him  as  her  son,  and  the  manner  of  the 
adoption  was  thus,  not  less  memorable  than  rude  :  —  The  same 
day  that  he  was  baptized  and  stricken  knight  by  Garci  Fernandez, 
Count  of  Castile,  his  father's  wife  being  resolved  to  adopt  him, 
made  use  of  this  ceremony,  —  she  drew  him  within  a  very  wide 
smock  by  the  sleeve,  and  thrust  his  head  forth  at  the  neck-band, 
and  then  kissing  him  on  the  face,  delivered  him  to  the  family  as 
her  own  child.  *  *  *  * 

"  In  the  cloister  of  the  Monastery  of  Saint  Peter  of  Arlanza,  they 
show  the  sepulchre  of  Mudarra.  But  concerning  the  place  where 
his  seven  brothers  were  buried,  there  is  a  dispute  between  the 
members  of  that  house  and  those  of  the  Monastery  of  Saint  Millan 
at  Cogolla."  -—  MARIANA,  Book  VIII.  chap.  9. 

Such  is  Mariana's  edition  of  the  famous  story  of  the  Infants  of 
Lara,  a  story  which,  next  to  the  legends  of  the  Cid,  and  of  Ber- 
nardo del  Carpio,  appears  to  have  furnished  the  most  favourite  sub- 
jects of  the  old  Spanish  minstrels. 

The  ballad,  a  translation  of  which  follows,  relates  to  a  part  of 
the  history  briefly  alluded  to  by  Mariana.  In  the  Chronicle  we 
are  informed  more  minutely,  that  after  the  seven  infants  were  slain, 
Almanzor,  King  of  Cordova,  invited  his  prisoner,  Gonzalo  Gustio, 
to  feast  with  him  in  his  palace  ;  but  when  the  Baron  of  Lara  came, 
in  obedience  to  the  royal  invitation,  he  found  the  heads  of  his  sons 
set  forth  in  chargers  on  the  table.  The  old  man  reproached  the 
Moorish  King  bitterly  for  the  cruelty  and  baseness  of  this  pro- 
ceeding, and  suddenly  snatching  a  sword  from  the  side  of  one  of  the 
royal  attendants,  sacrificed  to  his  wrath,  ere  he  could  be  disarmed 
and  fettered,  thirteen  of  the  Moors  who  surrounded  the  person  of 
Almanzor.  The  whole  of  the  far  more  copious  account  of  the 


48  THE   SEVEN  HEAD*. 

Infants  of  Lara,  which  occurs  in  the  Coronica  General  de 
has  been  translated  by  Mr.  Southey. 


"Wno, bears  such  heart  of  baseness,  a  king  I'll  never  call  — 

Thus  spake  Gonzalo  Gustos  within  Almanzor's  hall ; 

To  the  proud  Moor  Almanzor,  within  his  kingly  hall, 

The  grey-haired  knight  of  Lara  thus  spake  before  them  all :  — 


ii. 

"  In  courteous  guise,  Almanzor,  your  messenger  was  sent, 

And  courteous  was  the  answer  with  which  from  me  he  went ; 

For  why?  I  thought  the  word  he  brought  of  a  knight  and  of  :i 

king,  - 
But  false  Moor  henceforth  "never  me  to  his  feast  shall  bring. 


in. 

"  Ye  bade  me  to  your  banquet,  and  I  at  your  bidding  came. 

And  accursed  be  the  villany,  and  eternal  be  the  shame  — 

For  ye  have  brought  an  old  man  forth,  that  he  your  sport  initrht 

be:  — 
Thank  God  I  cheat  you  of  your  joy  —  Thank  God,  no  tear  you 

see. 

IV. 

"  My  gallant  boys,"  quoth  Lara,  "  it  is  a  heavy  sight, 
These  dogs  have  brought  your  father  to  look  upon  this  night ; 
Seven  gentler  boys,  nor  braver,  were  never  nursed  in  Spain, 
And  blood  of  Moors,  God  rest  your  souls,  ye  shed  on  her  like 
rain. 

v. 

"Some  currish  plot,  some  trick  (God  wot),  hath  laid  you  all  so 

low, 

Ye  died  not  all  together  in  one  fair  battle  so ; 
Not  all  the  misbelievers  ever  prick'd  upon  yon  plain 
The  seven  brave  boys  of  Lara  in  open  field  had  slain. 


77/7:    SEl'E.V  HEADS.  49 

VI. 

"  The  youngest  and  the  weakest,  Gonzalez  dear,  wert  thou, 
Yet  well  this  false  Almanzor  remembers  thee,  I  trow ; 
Oh,  well  doth  he  remember  how  on  his  helmet  rung 
Thy  fiery  mace,  Gonzalez,  although  thou  wert  so  young. 

VII. 

"Thy  gallant  horse  had  fallen,  and  thou  hadst  mounted  thee 
Upon  a  stray  one  in  the  field — his  own  true  barb  had  he  ; 
Oh,  hadst  thou  not  pursued  his  flight  upon  that  runaway, 
Ne'er  had  the  caitiff  'scaped  that  night,  to  mock  thy  sire  to-day  ! 

VIII. 

"  False  Moor,  I  am  thy  captive  thrall ;  but  when  thou  badest  me 

forth, 

To  share  the  banquet  in  thy  hall,  I  trusted  in  the  worth 
Of  kingly  promise.  —  Think'st  thou  not  my  God  will  hear  my 

prayer  ?  — 
Lord  !   branchless  be  (like  mine)  his  tree,  yea,  branchless,  Lord, 

and  bare  ! " 

IX. 

So  prayed  the  Baron  in  his  ire,  but, when  he  looked  again, 
Then  burst  the  sorrow  of  the  sire,  and  tears  ran  down  like  rain ; 
Wrath  no  more  could  check  the  sorrow  of  the  old  and  childless  man, 
And  like  waters  in  a  furrow,  down  his  cheeks  the  salt  tears  ran. 


x. 

He  took  their  heads  up  one  by  one  —  he  kiss'd  them  o'er  and  o'er, 
And  aye  ye  saw  the  tears  run  down  —  I  wot  that  grief  was  sore. 
He  closed  the  lids  on  their  dead  eyes  all  with  his  fingers  frail, 
And  handled  all  their  bloody  curls,  and  kissed  their  lips  so  pale. 

XI. 

"  O  had  ye  died  all  by  my  side  upon  some  famous  day, 

My  fair  young  men,  no  weak  tears  then  had  wash'd  your  blood 

away  ! 

The  trumpet  of  Castile  had  drowned  the  misbeliever's  horn, 
And  the  last  of  all  the  Lara's  line  a  Gothic  spear  had  borne." 


50 


XII. 


With  that  it  chanced  a  Moor  drew  near,  to  lead  him  from  the  place, 
Old  Lara  stooped  him  down  once  more,  and  kiss'd  Gonzalez'  face  ; 
But  ere  the  man  observed  him,  or  could  his  gesture  bar, 
Sudden  he  from  his  side  had  grasped  that  Moslem's  scymitar. 


XIII. 


Oh  !  swiftly  from  its  scabbard  the  crooked  blade  he  drew, 
And,  like  some  frantic  creature,  among  them  all  he  flew  — 
••  Where,  where  is  false  Almanzor?  back  bastards  of  Mahoun  !  " 
And  here,  and  there,  in  his  despair,  the  old  man  hewed  them  down. 


XIV. 


A  hundred  hands,  a  hundred  brands,  are  ready  in  the  hall, 
But  ere  they  mastered  Lara,  thirteen  of  them  did  fall ; 
He  has  sent,  I  ween,  a  good  thirteen  of  dogs  that  spurned  his  God, 
To  keep  his  children  company,  beneath  the  Moorish  sod. 


THE    VENGEANCE   OF  MUDARRA.  51 


THE   VENGEANCE   OF   MUDARRA. 


[This  is  another  of  the  many  ballads  concerning  the  Infants  of  Lara.     One 
verse  of  it, 

—  El  espera  que  tu  diste  a  los  Infantes  de  Lara  ! 
Aqui  moriras  traydor  enemigo  de  Donna  Sancha, 

is  quoted  by  Sancho  Panza,  in  one  of  the  last  chapters  of  Don  Quixote.~\ 


To  the  chase  goes  Rodrigo,  with  hound  and  with  hawk ; 
But  what  game  he  desires  is  revealed  in  his  talk,  — 
"  O,  in  vain  have  I  slaughtered  the  Infants  of  Lara  : 
There's  an  heir  in  his  halls,  —  there's  the  bastard  Mudarra. 
There's  the  son  of  the  renegade  —  spawn  of  Mahoun  — 
If  I  meet  with  Mudarra,  my  spear  brings  him  down."  — 


While  Rodrigo  rides  on  in  the  heat  of  his  wrath, 

A  stripling,  armed  cap-a-pee,  crosses  his  path  — 

"  Good  morrow,  young  esquire." —  "  Good  morrow,  old  knight. 

"Will  you  ride  with  our  party,  and  share  our  delight?"  — 

"  Speak  your  name,  courteous  stranger,"  the  stripling  replied  ; 

"  Speak  your  name  and  your  lineage,  ere  with  you  I  ride."  — 

in. 

"  My  name  is  Rodrigo,"  thus  answered  the  knight ; 
"  Of  the  line  of  old  Lara,  though  barred  from  my  right, 
For  the  kinsman  of  Salas  proclaims  for  the  heir 
Of  our  ancestor's  castles  and  forestries  fair, 
A  bastard,  a  renegade's  offspring  —  Mudarra, 
Whom  I'll  send,  if  I  can,  to  the  Infants  of  Lara."- 


52 


THE    VENGEANCE   OF  .MUDARRA. 


IV. 

"  I  behold  thee,  disgrace  to  thy  lineage  !  —  with  joy 
I  behold  thee,  thou  murderer  !  "  —  answered  the  boy. 
"  The  bastard  you  curse,  you  behold  him  in  me  ; 
But  his  brothers'  avenger  that  bastard  shall  be  ; 
Draw  !  for  I  am  the  renegade's  offspring,  Mudarra ; 
We  shall  see  who  inherits  the  life-blood  of  Lara  ! "  — 


v. 

"  I  am  armed  for  the  forest-chase  —  not  for  the  fight  — 

Let  me  go  for  my  shield  and  my  sword,"  cries  the  knight 

"  Now  the  mercy  you  dealt  to  my  brothers  of  old, 

Be  the  hope  of  that  mercy  the  comfort  you  hold  ; 

Die,  foeman  to  Sancha  —  die,  traitor  to- Lara  !" 

As  he  spake,  there  was  blood  on  the  spear  of  Mudarra. 


THE   WEDDING  OF  THE  LAD  Y  THERESA.  53 


THE  WEDDING  OF  THE  LADY  THERESA. 


THK  following  passage  occurs  in  Mariana's  History,  Book  VIII. 
chap.  5  :  — "  There  are  who  affirm  that  this  Moor's  name  was 
Abdalla,  and  that  he  had  to  wife  Donna  Theresa,  sister  to  Alphonso, 
King  of  Leon,  with  consent  of  that  prince.  Great  and  flagrant 
dishonour  !  The  purpose  was  to  gain  new  strength  to  his  kingdom 
by  this  Moorish  alliance ;  but  some  pretences  were  set  forth  that 
Abdalla  had  exhibited  certain  signs  of  desiring  to  be  a  Christian, 
that  in  a  short  time  he  was  to  be  baptized,  and  the  like. 

"  The  Lady  Theresa,  deceived  with  these  representations,  was 
conducted  to  Toledo,  where  the  nuptials  were  celebrated  in  great 
splendour  with  games  and  sports,  and  a  banquet,  which  lasted  until 
night.  The  company  having  left  the  tables,  the  bride  was  then 
carried  to  bed  ;  but  when  the  amorous  Moor  drew  near  to  her,  — 
'Away,'  said  she;  'let  such  heavy  calamity,  such  baseness  be  far 
from  me  !  One  of  two  things  must  be  —  either  be  baptized,  thou 
with  thy  people,  and  then  come  to' my  arms,  or,  refusing  to  do  so, 
keep  away  from  me  for  ever.  If  otherwise,  fear  the  vengeance  of 
men,  who  will  not  overlook  my  insult  and  suffering,  and  the  wrath 
of  God,  above  all,  which  will  follow  the  violation  of  a  Christian 
lady's  chastity.  Take  good  heed,  and  let  not  luxury,  that  smooth 
pest,  be  thy  ruin.'  But  the  Moor  took  no  heed  of  her  words,  and 
lay  with  her  against  her  will.  The  Divine  vengeance  followed 
swiftly,  for  there  fell  on  him  a  severe  malady,  and  he  well  knew 
within  himself  from  what  cause  it  arose.  Immediately  he  sent 
back  Donna  Theresa  to  her  brother's  house,  with  great  gifts  which 
he  had  bestowed  on  her ;  but  she  made  herself  a  nun  in  the  Monas- 
tery of  Saint  Pelagius,  in  Leon,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
her  days  in  pious  labours  and  devotions,  in  which  she  found  her 
consolation  for  the  outrage  that  had  been  committed  on  her." 

The  ballad,  of  which  a  translation  follows,  tells  the  same  story  :  — 

En  los  reynos  de  Leon  el  quinto  Alfonso  reynava,  &c, 


54  THE  WEDDING  OF  THE  LADY  THERESA. 


'TWAS  when  the  fifth  Alphonso  in  Leon  held  his  sway, 
King  Abdalla  of  Toledo  an  embassy  did  send  ; 
He  asked  his  sister  for  a  wife,  and  in  an  evil  day 
Alphonso  sent  her,  for  he  feared  Abdalla  to  offend  ; 
He  feared  to  move  his  anger,  for  many  times  before 
He  had  received  in  danger  much  succour  from  that  Moor. 

ii. 

Sad  heart  had  fair  Theresa  when  she  their  paction  knew. 

With  streaming  tears  she  heard  them  tell  she  'mong  the  Moors 

must  go, 

That  she,  a  Christian  damosell,  a  Christian  firm  and  true, 
Must  wed  a  Moorish  husband,  it  well  might  cause  her  wo  ; 
But  all  her  tears  and  all  her  prayers  they  are  of  small  avail ; 
At  length  she  for  her  fate  prepares,  a  victim  sad  and  pale. 

in. 

The  King  hath  sent  his  sister  to  fair  Toledo  town, 

Where  then  the  Moor  Abdalla  his  royal  state  did  keep  ; 

When  she  drew  near,  the  Moslem,  from  his  golden  throne,  came 

down 

And  courteously  received  her,  and  bade  her  cease  to  weep  ; 
With  loving  words  he  pressed  her,  to  come  his  bower  within, 
With  kisses  he  caressed  her,  but  still  she  feared  the  sin. 

IV. 

"  Sir  King,  Sir  King,  I  pray  thee,"  'twas  thus  Theresa  spake,  — 

"  I  pray  thee  have  compassion,  and  do  to  me  no  wrong  ; 

For  sleep  with  thee  I  may  not,  unless  the  vows  I  break 

\\  hereby  I  to  the  holy  Church  of  Christ  my  Lord  belong ; 

But  thou  hast  sworn  to  serve  Mahoun,  and  if  this  thing  should  be, 

The  curse  of  God  it  must  bring  down  upon  thy  realm  and  thee. 

v. 

"  The  angel  of  Christ  Jesu,  to  whom  my  heavenly  Lord 

Hath  given  my  soul  in  keeping,  is  ever  by  my  side  ; 

If  thou  dost  me  dishonour,  he  will  unsheath  his  sword, 

And  smite  thy  body  fiercely,  at  the  crying  of  thy  bride. 

Invisible  he  standeth ;  his  sword,  like  fiery  flame. 

Will  penetrate  thy  bosom,  the  hour  that  sees  my  shame."  — 


THE  WEDDING  OF  THE  LADY  THERESA.  55 

VI. 

The  Moslem  heard  her  with  a  smile ;  the  earnest  words  she  said, 
He  took  for  bashful  maiden's  wile,  and  drew  her  to  his  bower. 
In  vain  Theresa  prayed  and  strove  —  she  pressed  Abdalla's  bed, 
Perforce  received  his  kiss  of  love,  and  lost  her  maiden  flower. 
A  woeful  Woman  l  there  she  lay,  a  loving  lord  beside, 
And  earnestly  to  God  did  pray  her  succour  to  provide. 


VII. 

The  Angel  of  Christ  Jesu  her  sore  complaint  did  hear, 
And  plucked  his  heavenly  weapon  from  out  its  sheath  unseen, 
He  waved  the  brand  in  his  right  hand,  and  to  the  King  came  near, 
And  drew  the  point  o'er  limb  and  joint,  beside  the  weeping  Queen. 
A  mortal  weakness  from  the  stroke  upon  the  King  did  fall, 
He  could  not  stand  when  daylight  broke,  but  on  his  knees  must 
crawl. 


Abdalla  shuddered  inly,  when  he  this  sickness  felt, 

And  called  upon  his  Barons,  his  pillow  to  come  nigh ; 

'•  Rise  up,"  he  said,  "  my  liegemen,"  as  round  his  bed  they  knelt, 

"  And  take  this  Christian  lady,  else  certainly  I  die  ; 

Let  gold  be  in  your  girdles,  and  precious  stones  beside, 

And  swiftly  ride  to  Leon,  and  render  up  my  bride."  — 


IX. 

When  they  were  come  to  Leon,  Theresa  would  not  go 

Into  her  brother's  dwelling,  where  her  maiden  years  were  spent ; 

But  o'er  her  downcast  visage  a  white  veil  she  did  throw, 

And  to  the  ancient  nunnery  of  Saint  Pelagius  went. 

There  long,  from  worldly  eyes  retired,  a  holy  life  she  led ; 

There  she,  an  aged  saint,  expired  —  there  sleeps  she  with  the  dead. 

1  Duena  El  Moro  la  tornava. 


56  THE    YOUNG   CW. 


THE   YOUNG   CID. 


[The  Ballads  in  the  Collection  of  Escobar,  entitled  "  Romancero  e  Historia 
del  inuy  valeroso  Cavallero  El  Cid  Ruy  Diaz  de  Bivar,"  are  said  by  Mr.  Southey 
to  be  in  general  possessed  of  but  little  merit.  Notwithstanding  the  opinion  of 
that  great  scholar  and  poet,  I  have  had  much  pleasure  in  reading  them;  and 
have  translated  a  very  few,  which  may  serve,  perhaps,  as  a  sufficient  specimen. 

The  following  is  a  version  of  that  which  stands  fifth  in  Escobar :  — 

Cavalga  Diego  Laynez  al  buen  Key  besar  la  mano,  &c.] 


Now  rides  Uiego  Laynez,  to  kiss  the  good  King's  hand, 
Three  hundred  men  of  gentry  go  with  him  from  his  land, 
Among  them,  young  Rodrigo,  the  proud  Knight  of  Bivar ; 
The  rest  on  mules  are  mounted,  he  on  his  horse  of  war. 

n. 

They  ride  in  glittering  gowns  of  soye  —  He  harnessed  like  a  lord  ; 
There  is  no  gold  about  the  boy,  but  the  crosslet  of  his  sword  ; 
The  rest  have  gloves  of  sweet  perfume, —  He  gauntlets  strong  of 

mail ; 
They  broidered  cap  and  flaunting  plume,  —  He  crest  untaught  to 

quail. 

in. 

All  talking  with  each  other  thus  along  their  way  they  passed, 
But  now  they've  come  to  Burgos,  and  met  the  King  at  last ; 
When  they  came  near  his  nobles,  a  whisper  through  them  ran,  — 
"  He  rides  amidst  the  gentry  that  slew  the  Count  Lozan."  - 

IV. 

With  very  haughty  gesture  Rodrigo  reined  his  horse, 

Right  scornfully  he  shouted,  when  he  heard  them  so  discourse,  — 

"  If  any  of  his  kinsmen  or  vassals  dare  appear, 

The  man  to  give  them  answer,  on  horse  or  foot,  is  here."  — 


THE    YOUNG  CID.  57 

V. 

"  The  devil  ask  the  question  !•"  thus  muttered  all  the  band  ;  — 
With  that  they  all  alighted,  to  kiss  the  good  King's  hand, — 
All  but  the  proud  Rodrigo,  he  in  his  saddle  stayed,  — 
Then  turned  to  him  his  father  (you  may  hear  the  words  he  said). 


VI. 


"  Now,  light,  my  son,  I  pray  thee,  and  kiss  the  good  King's  hand, 
He  is  our  lord,  Rodrigo  ;  we  hold  of  him  our  land."  — 
Hut  when  Rodrigo  heard  him,  he  looked  in  sulky  sort, — 
I  wot  the  words  he  answered  they  were  both  cold  and  short. 


VII. 


"  Had  any  other  said  it,  his  pains  had  well  been  paid, 
But  thou,  sir,  art  my  father,  thy  word  must  be  obeyed."  — 
\Vith  that  he  sprung  down  lightly,  before  the  King  to  kneel, 
But  as  the  knee  was  bending,  out  leapt  his  blade  of  steel. 


VIII. 


The  King  drew  back  in  terror,  when  he  saw.  the  sword  was  bare ; 
"  Stand  back,  stand  back,  Rodrigo,  in  the  devil's  name  beware ; 
Your  looks  bespeak  a  creature  or  father  Adam's  mould, 
But  in  your  wild  behaviour  you're  like  some  lion  bold." 


When  Rodrigo  heard  him  say  so,  he  leapt  into  his  seat, 

And  thence  he  made  his  answer,  with  visage  nothing  sweet,  — 

"  I'd  think  it  little  honour  to  kiss  a  kingly  palm, 

And  if  my  fathers  kissed  it,  thereof  ashamed  I  am." — • 

x. 

When  he  these  words  had  uttered,  he  turned  him  from  the  gate. 
His  true  three  hundred  gentles  behind  him  followed  straight ; 
I  f  with  good  gowns  they  came  that  day,  with  better  arms  they  went 
And  if  their  mules  behind  did  stay,  with  horses  they're  content. 


58  A7J/£A:-y   DEMANDS   VENGEANCE. 


XIMENA   DEMANDS   VENGEANCE. 


[This  liallad,  the  sixth  in  Escobar,  represents  Ximena  dome/,  as,  in  ]>ersnii, 
demanding  of  the  King  vengeance  for  the  death  of  her  father,  whom  the 
young  Rodrigo  de  Bivar  had  fought  and  slain.] 


WITHIN  the  court  at  Burgos  a  clamour  cloth  arise. 

Of  arms  on  armour  clashing,  and  screams,  and  snouts,  and  cries  : 

The  good  men  of  the  King,  that  sit  his  hall  around, 

All  suddenly  upspring,  astonished  at  the  sound. 

ii. 

The  King  leans  from  his  chamber,  from  the  balcony  on  high  — 
"What  means  this  furious  clamour  my  palace-porch  so  nigh?" 
But  when  he  looked  below  him,  there  were  horsemen  at  the  gate, 
And  the  fair  Ximena  Gomez,  kneeling  in  woeful  state. 


Upon  her  neck,  disordered,  hung  down  the  lady's  hair, 
And  floods  of  tears  were  streaming  upon  her  bosom  fair. 
Sore  wept  she  for  her  father,  the  Count  that  had  been  slain ; 
Loud  cursed  she  Rodrigo,  whose  sword  his  blood  did  stain. 

IV. 

They  turned  to  bold  Rodrigo,  I  wot  his  cheek  was  red  ;  — 
With  haughty  wrath  he  listened  to  the  words  Ximena  said  — 
"  Good  King,  I  cry  for  justice.     Now,  as  my  voice  thoti  hearest. 
So  God  befriend  the  children,  that  in  thy  land  thoti  rearest. 


"  The  King  that  doth  not  justice  hath  forfeited  his  claim, 
Both  to  his  kingly  station,  and  to  his  kingly  name ; 


XIMENA   DEMANDS   VENGEANCE.  59 

He  should  not  sit  at  banquet,  clad  in  the  royal  pall, 
Nor  should  the  nobles  serve  him  on  knee  within  the  hall. 


VI. 


"  Good  King,  I  am  descended  from  barons  bright  of  old, 
That  with  Castilian  pennons,  Pelayo  did  uphold  : 
But  if  my  strain  were  lowly,  as  it  is  high  and  clear, 
Thou  still  shouldst  prop  the  feeble,  and  the  afflicted  hear. 


VII. 


"  For  thee,  fierce  homicide,  draw,  draw  thy  sword  once  more, 
And  pierce  the  breast  which  wide  I  spread  thy  stroke  before ; 
Because  I  am  a  woman,  my  life  thou  needst  not  spare,  — 
I  am  Ximena  Gomez,  my  slaughtered  father's  heir. 


VIII. 


"  Since  thou  hast  slain  the  Knight  that  did  our  faith  defend, 

And  still  to  shameful  flight  all  the  Almanzors  send. 

'Tis  but  a  little  matter  that  I  confront  thee  so, 

Come,  champion,  slay  his  daughter,  she  needs  must  be  thy  foe." 


IX. 


Ximena  gazed  upon  him,  but  no  reply  could  meet ; 

His  fingers  held  the  bridle,  he  vaulted  to  his  seat. 

She  turned  her  to  the  nobles,  I  wot  her  cry  was  loud, 

But  not  a  man  durst  follow ;  slow  rode  he  through  the  crowd. 


60  THE  CID  A\D   THE  FIVE  MOORISH  KINGS. 

THE 

CID   AND   THE   FIVE  MOORISH    KINGS. 


[The  reader  will  find  the  story  of  this  Ballad  in  Mr.  Southey's  "  Chronicle 
of  the  Cid."  "  And  the  Moors  entered  Castile  in  great  power,  for  there  came 
with  them  five  Kings,"  &C.  Book  I.  Sect.  4.] 


WITH  fire  and  desolation  the  Moors  are  in  Castile. 

Five  Moorish  kings  together,  and  all  their  vassals  leal ; 

They've  passed  in  front  of  Burgos,  through  the  Oca- Hills  they've 

run, 
They've  plundered  Belforado,  San  Domingo's  harm  is  done. 

n. 

In  Najara  and  Lograno  there's  waste  and  disarray :  — 
And  now  with  Christian  captives,  a  very  heavy  prey, 
With  many  men  and  women,  and  boys  and  girls  beside, 
In  joy  and  exultation  to  their  own  realms  they  ride. 


For  neither  king  nor  noble  would  dare  their  path  to  cross, 
Until  the  good  Rodrigo  heard  of  this  skaith  and  loss ; 
In  old  Bivar  the  castle  he  heard  the  tidings  told, 
( He  was  as  yet  a  stripling,  not  twenty  summers  old) . 

IV. 

He  mounted  Bavieca,  his  friends  he  with  him  took, 

He  raised  the  country  round  him,  no  more  such  scorn  to  brook ; 

He  rode  to  the  hills  of  Oca,  where  then  the  Moormen  lay, 

He  conquered  all  the  Moormen,  and  took  from  them  their  prey. 


THE  CfD  AND   THE  FIVE  MOORISH  KINGS. 

V. 

To  every  man  had  mounted  he  gave  his  part  of  gain, 
Dispersing  the  much  treasure  the  Saracens  had  ta'en ; 
The  Kings  were  all  the  booty  himself  had  from  the  war, 
Them  led  he  to  the  castle,  his  stronghold  of  Bivar. 


VI. 

He  brought  them  to  his  mother,  proud  dame  that  day  was  she 
They  owned  him  for  their  Signior,  and  then  he  set  them  free  : 
Home  went  they,  much  commending  Rodrigo  of  Bivar, 
And  sent  him  lordly  tribute,  from  their  Moorish  realms  afar. 


62  THE   CW'S  COUR'I'SFfir. 


THE   CID'S   COURTSHIP. 


[See  Mr.  Southey's  "  Chronicle  of  the  Cicl "  (Book  I.  Sect.  5),  for  this  part 
the  Cid's  story,  as  jjiven  in  the  General  Chronicle  of  Spain.] 


of  the 


Now,  of  Rodrigo  tie  Bivar  great  was  the  fame  that  run, 
How  he  five  Kings  had  vanquished,  proud  Moormen  e\  :ry  one 
And  how,  when  they  consented  to  hold  of  him  their  ground. 
He  freed  them  from  the  prison  wherein  they  had  been  bound. 

ii. 

To  the  good  King  Fernando,  in  Burgos  where  he  lay, 
Came  then  Ximena  Gomez,  and  thus  to  him  did  say  :  — 
"  I  am  Don  Gomez'  daughter,  in  Gormaz  Count  was  he ; 
Him  slew  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  in  battle  valiantly. 

in. 

"  Now  am  I  come  before  you,  this  day  a  boon  to  crave, 
And  it  is  that  1  to  husband  may  this  Rodrigo  have  ; 
Grant  this,  and  I  shall  hold  me  a  happy  damosell, 
Much  honoured  shall  I  hold  me,  I  shall  be  married  well. 

IV. 

"  I  know  he's  born  for  thriving,  none  like  him  in  the  land : 
I  know  that  none  in  battle  against  his  spear  may  stand  ; 
Forgiveness  is  well  pleasing  in  God  our  Saviour's  view, 
And  I  forgive  him  freely,  for  that  my  sire  he  slew."  — 

v. 

Right  pleasing  to  Fernando  was  the  thing  she  did  propose'  . 
He  writes  his  letter  swiftly,  and  forth  his  foot-page  goes ; 
I  wot,  when  young  Rodrigo  saw  how  the  King  did  write, 
He  leapt  on  Bavieca  —  I  wot  his  leap  was  light. 


THE    C/D'S   COURTSHIP.  63 

VI. 

With  his  own  troop  of  true  men  forthwith  he  took  the  way, 
Three  hundred  friends  and  kinsmen,  all  gently  born  were  they ; 
All  in  one  colour  mantled,  in  armour  gleaming  gay, 
New  were  both  scarf  and  scabbard,  when  they  went  forth  that  day. 

VII. 

The  King  came  out  to  meet  him,  with  words  of  hearty  cheer ; 
Quoth  he,  "  My  good  Rodrigo,  you  are  right  welcome  here  ; 
This  girl  Ximena  Gomez  would  have  ye  for  her  lord, 
Already  for  the  slaughter  her  grace  she  doth  accord. 

vm. 

"  I  pray  you  be  consenting,  my  gladness  will  be  great ; 
You  shall  have  lands  in  plenty,  to  strengthen  your  estate."  — 
"  Lord  King,"  Rodrigo  answers,  "  in  this  and  all  beside, 
Command,  and  I'll  obey  you.     The  girl  shall  be  my  bride."  — 

IX. 

But  when  the  fair  Ximena  came  forth  to  plight  her  hand, 
Rodrigo,  gazing  on  her,  his  face  could  not  command  : 
He  stood  and  blushed  before  her;  —  thus  at  the  last  said  he  — 
'  I  slew  thy  sire,  Ximena,  but  not  in  villany :  — 

x. 

"  In  no  disguise  I  slew  him,  man  against  man  I  stood ; 

There  was  some  wrong  between  us,1  and  I  did  shed  his  blood. 

I  slew  a  man,  I  owe  a  man ;  fair  lady,  by  God's  grace, 

An  honoured  husband  thou  shall  have  in  thy  dead  father's  place." 

1  The  wrong  was  all  on  the  side  of  Ximena's  father.  The  cause  of  quarrel 
was  a  blow  on  the  face  given  by  Don  Gomez,  Count  of  Gormaz,  to  the  Ciil's 
father,  Don  Diego  Laynez,  an  old  and  feeble  man.  whose  injured  honour  the 
son  was  called  on  to  avenge.  The  chivalrous  delicacy  of  the  reply  to  Ximena 
will  strike  the  reader.  fFdit.] 


64  THE   CID'S    WEDDIXG. 


THE   CID'S   WEDDING. 


[The  following  ballad,  which  contains  some  curious  traits  of  rough  and 

antique  manners,  is  not  included  in  Escobar's  collection.  There  is  one  there 

descriptive  of  the  same  event,  but  apparently  executed  by  a  much  more  mod- 
ern hand.] 


WITHIN  his  hall  of  Burgos  the  King  prepares  the  feast ; 
He  makes  his  preparation  for  many  a  noble  guest. 
It  is  a  joyful  city,  it  is  a  gallant  day, 
Tis  the  Campeador's  wedding,  and  who  will  bide  away? 


ii. 

I^ayn  Calvo,  the  Lord  Bishop,  he  first  comes  forth  the  gate, 
Behind  him  comes  Ruy  Diaz,  in  all  his  bridal  state  ; 
The  crowd  makes  way  before  them  as  up  the  street  they  go ; 
For  the  multitude  of  people  their  steps  must  needs  be  slow. 


in. 

The  King  had  taken  order  that  they  should  rear  an  arch, 
From  house  to  house  all  over,  in  the  way  where  they  must  march  ; 
They  have  hung  it  all  with  lances,  and  shields,  and  glittering  helms. 
Brought  by  the  Campeador  from  out  the  Moorish  realms. 


rv. 

They  have  scattered  olive  branches  and  rushes  on  the  street. 
And  the  ladies  fling  down  garlands  at  the  Campeador's  feet : 
With  tapestry  and  broidery  their  balconies  between, 
To  do  his  bridal  honour,  their  walls  the  burghers  screen. 


THE    CWS    WEDDING.  t>5 

V. 


They  lead  the  bulls  before  them  all  covered  o'er  with  trappings  ; 
The  little  boys  pursue  them  with  hootings  and  with  clappings^ 
The  fool,  with  cap  and  bladder,  upon  his  ass  goes  prancing, 
Amidst  troops  of  captive  maidens  with  bells  and  cymbals  dancii\ 


VI. 


With  antics  and  with  fooleries,  with  shouting  and  with  laughter, 
They  fill  the  streets  of  Burgos  —  and  The  Devil  he  comes  after ; 
For  the  King  has  hired  the  horned  fiend  for  sixteen  maravedis, 
And  there  he  goes,  with  hoofs  for  toes,  to  terrify  the  ladies. 


VII. 


Then  comes  the  bride  Ximena  —  the  King  he  holds  her  hand; 
And  the  Queen,  and,  all  in  fur  and  pall,  the  nobles  of  the  land ; 
All  down  the  street  the  ears  of  wheat  are  round  Ximena  flying, 
But  the  King  lifts  off  her  bosom  sweet  whatever  there  is  lying. 


VIII. 


Quoth  Suero,  when  he  saw  it  (his  thought  you  understand), 

"  Tis  a  fine  thing  to  be  a  King ;  but  Heaven  make  me  a  Hand  !" 

The  King  was  very  merry,  when  lie  was  told  of  this, 

And  swore  the  bride  ere  eventide,  must  give  the  boy  a  kiss. 


IX. 


The  King  went  always  talking,  but  she  held  down  her  head, 
And  seldom  gave  an  answer  to  any  thing  he  said ; 
It  was  better  to  be  silent,  among  such  a  crowd  of  folk, 
Than  utter  words  so  meaningless  as  she  did  when  she  spoke. 


66  THE    C1D  AND    THE  LEPER. 


THE   CID   AND   THE    LEPER. 


[Like  our  own  Robert  the  Bruce,  the  great  Spanish  hero  is  represented  as 
exhibiting,  on  many  occasions,  great  gentleness  of  disposition  and  compassion. 
But  while  old  Barlumr  is  contented  with  such  simple  anecdotes  as  that  of  a 
poor  laundress  being  suddenly  taken  ill  with  the  pains  of  childbirth,  and  the 
king  stopping  the  march  of  his  army  rather  than  leave  her  unprotected,  the 
minstrels  of  Spain,  never  losing  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  the  superstition 
propensities  of  their  audience,  are  sure  to  let  no  similar  incident  in  their 
champion's  history  pass  without  a  miracle.] 


HE  has  ta'en  some  twenty  gentlemen,  along  with  him  to  go, 
For  he  will  pay  that  ancient  vow  he  to  Saint  James  doth  owe  ; 
To  Compostella,  where  the  shrine  doth  by  the  altar  stand, 
The  good  Rodrigo  de  Bivar  is  riding  through  the  land. 

n. 

Where'er  he  goes,  much  alms  he  throws,  to  feeble  folk  and  poor ; 
Beside  the  way  for  him  they  pray,  him  blessings  to  procure ; 
For,  God  and  Mary  Mother,  their  heavenly  grace  to  win, 
His  hand  was  ever  bountiful :  great  was  his  joy  therein. 

in. 

And  there,  in  middle  of  the  path,  a  leper  did  appear ; 
In  a  deep  slough  the  leper  lay,  none  would  to  help  come  near. 
With  a  loud  voice  he  thence  did  cry,  "For  God  our  Saviour's  sake, 
From  out  this  fearful  jeopardy  a  Christian  brother  take."  - 

IV. 

When  Roderick  heard  that  piteous  word,  he  from  his  horse  came 

down  ; 

For  all  they  said,  no  stay  he  made,  that  noble  champion ; 
He  reached  his  hand  to  pluck  him  forth,  of  fear  was  no  account, 
Then  mounted  on  his  steed  of  worth,  and  made  the  leper  mount. 


THE   CID  AND    THE   I.EPER,  67 


v. 


Behind  him  rode  the  leprous  man ;  when  to  their  hostelrie 
They  came,  he  made  him  eat  with  him  at  table  cheerfully ; 
^Yhiie  all  the  rest  from  that  poor  guest  with  loathing  shrunk  away, 
To  his  own  bed  the  wretch  he  led,  beside  him  there  he  lay. 


VI. 


All  at  the  mid-hour  of  the  night,  while  good  Rodrigo  slept, 

A  breath  came  from  the  leprous  man,  it  through  his  shoulders  crept ; 

Right  through  the  body,  at  the  breast,  passed  forth  that  breathing 

cold; 
I  wot  he  leaped  up  with  a  start,  in  terrors  manifold. 


VII. 


He  groped  for  him  in  the  bed,  but  him  he  could  not  find, 
Through  the  dark  chamber  groped  he,  with  very  anxious  mind ; 
Loudly  he  lifted  up  his  voice,  with  speed  a  lamp  was  brought, 
Yet  nowhere  was  the  leper  seen,  though  far  and  near  they  sought. 


VIII. 


He  turned  him  to  his  chamber,  God  wot,  perplexed  sore 

With  that  which  had  befallen  —  when  lo  !  his  face  before, 

There  stood  a  man,  all  clothed  in  vesture  shining  white  : 

Thus  said  the  vision, "  Sleepest  thou,  or  wakest  thou,  Sir  Knight?"— 


IX. 


"  I  sleep  not,"  quoth  Rodrigo  ;  "  but  tell  me  who  art  thou, 
For,  in  the  midst  of  darkness,  much  light  is  on  thy  brow?"  — 
'*  I  am  the  holy  Lazarus,  I  come  to  speak  with  thee ; 
I  am  the  same  poor  leper  thou  savedst  for  charity. 


x. 


"  Not  vain  the  trial,  nor  in  vain  thy  victory  hath  been ; 
God  favours  thee,  for  that  my  pain  thou  didst  relieve  yestreen. 
There  shall  be  honour  with  thee,  in  battle  and  in  peace, 
Success  in  all  thy  doings,  and  plentiful  increase. 


68 


THE    CID  AND    THE  LEPER. 


XI. 


"  Strong  enemies  shall  not  prevail,  thy  greatness  to  undo  ; 

Thy  name  shall  make  men's  cheeks  full  pale  —  Christians  and 

Moslem  too ; 

A  death  of  honour  shall  thou  die,  such  grace  to  thee  is  given, 
Thy  soul  shall  part  victoriously,  and  be  received  in  heaven."  - 


XII. 


When  he  these  gracious  words  had  said,  the  spirit  vanished  quite, 
Rodrigo  rose  and  knelt  him  down  —  he  knelt  till  morning  light ; 
Unto  the  Heavenly  Father,  and  Mary  Mother  dear, 
He  made  his  prayer  right  humbly,  till  dawned  the  morning  clear. 


BA  VIECA. 


BAVIECA. 


MONTAIGNE,  in  his  curious  Essay,  entitled  "  Des  Destriers,"  says 
that  all  the  world  knows  everything  about  Bucephalus.  The  name 
of  the  favourite  charger  of  the  Cid  Ruy  Diaz,  is  scarcely  less  cele- 
brated. Notice  is  taken  of  him  in  almost  every  one  of  the  hundred 
ballads  concerning  the  history  of  his  master,  —  and  there  are  two 
or  three  of  these,  of  which  the  horse  is  more  truly  the  hero  than 
his  rider.  In  one  of  these  ballads,  the  Cid  is  giving  directions 
about  his  funeral;  he  desires  that  they  shall  place  his  body  "in 
full  armour  upon  Bavieca,"  and  so  conduct  him  to  the  church  of 
San  Pedro  de  Cardena.  This  was  done  accordingly ;  and,  says 
another  ballad  — 

Truxeron  pues  a  Babieca; 
V  en  mirandole  se  puso 
Tan  triste  como  si  fuera 
Mas  rasonable  que  bruto. 

In  the  Cid's  last  will,  mention  is  also  made  of  this  noble  charger. 
"  When  ye  bury  Bavieca,  dig  deep,"  says  Ruy  Diaz  ;  "  for  shame- 
ful thing  were  it,  that  he  should  be  eat  by  curs,  who  hath  trampled 
down  so  much  currish  flesh  of  Moors." 


THE  King  looked  on  him  kindly,  as  on  a  vassal  true ; 
Then  to  the  King  Ruy  Diaz  spake  after  reverence  due, — 
"  O  King,  the  thing  is  shameful,  that  any  man  beside 
The  liege  lord  of  Castile  himself  should  Bavieca  ride  : 

ii. 

"  For  neither  Spain  or  Araby  could  another  charger  bring 

So  good  as  he,  and  certes,  the  best  befits  my  King. 

But  that  you  may  behold  him,  and  know  him  to  the  core, 

I'll  make  him  go  as  he  was  wont  when  his  nostrils  smelt  the  Moor."- 


70  BA  VI EC  A. 


III. 


With  that,  the  Cid,  clad  as  he  was  in  mantle  furred  and  wide, 
On  Bavieca  vaulting,  put  the  rowel  in  his  side  ; 
And  up  and  down,  and  round  and  round,  so  fierce  was  his  career, 
Streamed  like  a  pennon  on  the  wind  Ruy  Diaz'  minivere. 


IV. 


And  all  that  saw  them  praised  them  —  they  lauded  man  and  horse, 
As  matched  well,  and  rivalless  for  gallantry  and  force  ; 
Ne'er  had  they  looked  on  horseman  might  to  this  knight  come  near, 
Nor  on  other  charger  worthy  of  such  a  cavalier. 


v. 

Thus,  to  and  fro  a-rushing,  the  fierce  and  furious  steed, 

He  snapt  in  twain  his  hither  rein  :  —  "  God  pity  now  the  Cid." 

"  God  pity  Diaz,"  cried  the  Lords,  —  but  when  they  looked  again, 

They  saw  Ruy  Diaz  ruling  him,  with  the  fragment  of  his  rein ; 

They  saw  him  proudly  ruling  with  gesture  firm  and  calm, 

Like  a  true  lord  commanding  —  and  obeyed  as  by  a  lamb. 


VI. 

And  so  he  led  him  foaming  and  panting  to  the  King, 
But  "  No,"  said  Don  Alphonso,  "  it  were  a  shameful  thing 
That  peerless  Bavieca  should  ever  be  bestrid 
By  any  mortal  but  Bivar —  Mount,  mount  again,  my  Cid." 


THE   EXCOMMUNICATION  OF   THE    CID.  71 

THE 

EXCOMMUNICATION    OF   THE  CID. 


THE  last  specimen  I  shall  give  of  the  Cid-ballads,  is  one  the 
subject  of  which  is  evidently  of  the  most  apocryphal  cast.  It  is, 
however,  so  far  as  I  recollect,  the  only  one  of  all  that  immense 
collection  that  is  quoted  or  alluded  to  in  Don  Quixote.  "Sancho," 
cried  Don  Quixote,  "  I  am  afraid  of  being  excommunicated  for 
having  laid  violent  hands  upon  a  man  in  holy  orders,  Juxta  Hind ; 
si  quis  suadente  diabolo,  &c.  But  yet,  now  I  think  on  it,  I  never 
touched  him  with  my  hands,  but  only  with  my  lance  ;  besides,  I 
did  not  in  the  least  suspect  I  had  to  do  with  priests,  whom  I  honour 
and  revere  as  every  good  Catholic  and  faithful  Christian  ought  to 
do,  but  rather  took  them  to  be  evil  spirits.  Well,  let  the  worst 
come  to  the  worst,  I  remember  what  befell  the  Cid  Ruy  Diaz,  when 
he  broke  to  pieces  the  chair  of  a  king's  ambassador  in  the  Pope's 
presence,  for  which  he  was  excommunicated  ;  which  did  not  hinder 
the  worthy  Rodrigo  de  Bivar  from  behaving  himself  that  day  like 
a  valorous  knight,  and  a  man  of -honour." 


IT  Was  when  from  Spain  across  the  main  the  Cid  had  come  to  Rome, 
He  chanced  to  see  chairs  four  and  three  beneath  Saint  Peter's  dome. 
"Now  tell,  I  pray,  what  chairs  be  they;"  —  "Seven  kings  do  sit 

thereon, 
As  well  doth  suit,  all  at  the  foot  of  the  holy  Father's  throne. 

n. 

"  The  Pope  he  sitteth  above  them  all,  that  they  may  kiss  his  toe, 
Below  the  keys  the  Flower-de-lys  doth  make  a  gallant  show  : 
For  his  great  puissance,  the  King  of  France  next  to  the  Pope  may  sit, 
The  rest  more  low,  all  in  a  row,  as  doth  their  station  fit."  — 


72  THE  EXCOMMUNICATION  OF  THE    CW. 

III. 

"  Ha  ! "  quoth  the  Cid,  "  now  God  forbid  I  it  is  a  shame,  I  wiss, 

To  see  the  Castle1  planted  beneath  the  Flower-de-lys.2 

Xo  harm,  I  hope,  good  Father  Pope  —  although  I  move  thy  chair." 

—  In  pieces  small  he  kicked  it  all  ('twas  of  the  ivory  fair). 

IV. 

The  Pope's  own  seat  he  from  his  feet  did  kick  it  far  away, 
And  the  Spanish  chair  he  planted  upon  its  place  that  day ; 
Above  them  all  he  planted  it,  and  laughed  right  bitterly ; 
Looks  sour  and  bad  I  trow  he  had,  as  grim  as  grim  might  be. 

v. 

Now  when  the  Pope  was  aware  of  this,  he  was  an  angry  man, 
His  lips  that  night,  with  solemn  rite,  pronounced  the  awful  ban  ; 
The  curse  of  God,  who  died  on  rood,  was  on  that  sinner's  head  — 
To  hell  and  woe  man's  soul  must  go  if  once  that  curse  be  said. 

VI. 

I  wot,  when  the  Cid  was  aware  of  this,  a  woful  man  was  he, 
At  dawn  of  day  he  came  to  pray  at  the  blessed  Father's  knee  : 
"  Absolve  me,  blessed  Father,  have  pity  upon  me, 
Absolve  my  soul,  and  penance  I  for  my  sin  will  dre^."  — 

VII. 

"  Who  is  this  sinner,"  quoth  the  Pope,  "  that  at  my  foot  doth  kneel  ?  " 

—  "  I  am  Rodrigo  Diaz  —  a  poor  Baron  of  Castile. "- 

Much  marvelled  all  were  in  the  hall,  when  that  name  they  heard 
him  say, 

—  "Rise  up,  rise  up,"  the  Pope  he  said,  "  I  do  thy  guilt  away ;  — 

VIII. 

"  I  do  thy  guilt  away,"  he  said  —  "and  my  curse  I  blot  it  out — 
God  save  Rodrigo  Diaz,  my  Christian  champion  stout;  — 
I  trow,  if  I  had  known  thee,  my  grief  it  had  been  sore, 
To  curse  Ruy  Diaz  de  Bivar,  God's  scourge  upon  the  Moor." 

1  The  arms  of  Castile.  2  'Die  arms  of  France. 


GARC1  PEREZ  DE    VARGAS. 


GARCI    PEREZ   DE  VARGAS. 


THE  crowns  of  Castile  and  Leon  being  at  length  joined  in  the 
person  of  King  Ferdinand,  surnamed  El  Santo,  the  authority  of 
the  Moors  in  Spain  was  destined  to  receive  many  severe  blows  from 
the  united  efforts  of  two  Christian  states,  which  had  in  former 
times  too  often  exerted  their  vigour  against  each  other.  The  most 
important  event  of  King  Ferdinand's  reign  was  the  conquest  of 
Seville,  which  great  city  yielded  to  his  arms  in  the  year  1248,  after 
sustaining  a  long  and  arduous  siege  of  sixteen  months. 

Don  Garci  Perez  de  Vargas  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
warriors  who  on  this  great  occasion  fought  under  the  banners  of 
Ferdinand  ;  and  accordingly  there  are  many  ballads  of  which  he  is 
the  hero.  The  incident  celebrated  in  that  which  follows,  is  thus 
told,  with  a  few  variations,  in  the  seventh  chapter  of  the  thirteenth 
book  of  MARIANA  :  — 

"Above  all  others,  there  signalized  himself  in  these  affairs  that 
Garci  Perez  de  Vargas,  a  native  ,of  Toledo,  of  whose  valour  so 
many  marvellous,  and  almost  incredible  achievements,  are  related. 
One  day  about  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  this  Garci  Perez,  and 
another  with  him,  were  riding  by  the  side  of  the  river,  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  outposts,  when,  of  a  sudden,  there  came  upon  them 
a  party  of  seven  Moors  on  horseback.  The  companion  of  Perez 
was  for  returning  immediately,  but  he  replied,  that  '  never,  even 
though  he  should  lose  his  life  for  it,  would  he  consent  to  the  base- 
ness of  flight.'  With  that,  his  companion  riding  off,  Perez  armed 
himself,  closed  his  visor,  and  put  his  lance  in  the  rest.  But  the 
enemies,  when  they  knew  who  it  was,  declined  the  combat. 

"  He  had  therefore  pursued  his  way  by  himself  for  some  space, 
when  he  perceived,  that  in  lacing  the  head-piece  and  shutting  the 
visor,  he  had,  by  inadvertence,  dropt  his  scarf.  He  immediately 
returned  upon  his  steps  that  he  might  seek  for  it.  The  King,  as  it 
happened,  had  his  eyes  upon  Perez  all  this  time,  for  the  royal  tent 
looked  towards  the  place  where  he  was  riding,  and  he  never 
doubted  that  the  knight  had  turned  back  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 


74  GARCI  PEREZ  DE    VARGAS. 

yoking  the  Moors  to  the  combat.  But  they  avoided  him  as  before, 
and  he,  having  regained  his  scarf,  came  in  safety  to  the  camp. 

"  The  honour  of  the  action  was  much  increased  by  this  circum- 
stance, that  although  frequently  pressed  to  disclose  the  name  of 
the  gentleman  who  had  deserted  him  in  that  moment  of  danger, 
( Jurci  Perez  would  never  consent  to  do  so,  for  his  modesty  was 
equal  to  his  bravery." 

A  little  farther  on  Mariana  relates,  that  Garci  Perez  had  a  dis- 
pute with  another  gentleman,  who  thought  proper  to  assert  that 
Garci  had  no  right  to  assume  the  coat-of-arms  which  he  wore. 
"  A  sally  having  been  made  by  the  Moors,  that  gentleman,  among 
many  more,  made  his  escape,  but  Garci  stood  firm  to  his  post, 
and  never  came  back  to  the  camp  until  the  Moors  were  driven 
again  into  the  city.  He  came  with  his  shield  all  bruised  and  bat- 
tered to  the  place  where  the  gentleman  was  standing,  and  point- 
ing to  the  effaced  bearing  which  was  on  it,  said,  '  Indeed,  sir,  it 
must  be  confessed  that  you  show  more  respect  than  I  do  to  this 
same  coat-of-arms,  for  you  keep  yours  bright  and  unsullied,  while 
mine  is  sadly  discoloured.'  The  gentleman  was  sorely  ashamed, 
and  thenceforth  Garci  Perez  bore  his  achievement  without  gain- 
saying or  dispute." 


KING  Ferdinand  alone  did  stand  one  day  upon  the  hill, 
Surveying  all  his  leaguer,  and  the  ramparts  of  Seville ; 
The  sight  was  grand,  when  Ferdinand  by  proud  Seville  was  lying, 
O'er  tower  and  tree  far  off  to  see  the  Christian  banners  flying. 

n. 

Down  chanced  the  King  his  eye  to  fling,  where  far  the  camp  below 
Two  gentlemen  along  the  glen  were  riding  soft  and  slow ; 
As  void  of  fear  each  cavalier  seemed  to  be  riding  there, 
As  some  strong  hound  may  pace  around  the  roebuck's  thickest 
lair. 

m. 

It  was  Don  Garci  Perez,  and  he  would  breathe  the  air, 

And  he  had  ta'en  a  knight  with  him,  that  as  lief  had  been  else 

where  ; 

For  soon  this  knight  to  Garci  said,  "  Ride,  ride  we,  or  we're  lost ! 
I  see  the  glance  of  helm  and  lance — it  is  the  Moorish  Host."  — 


GARCI  PEREZ  DE    VARGAS.  75 

IV. 

The  Baron  of  Vargas  turned  him  round,  his  trusty  squire  was  near, 
The  helmet  on  his  brow  lie  bound,  his  gauntlet  grasped  his  spear ; 
With  that  upon  his  saddle-tree  he  planted  him  right  steady, 
"  Now  come,"  quoth  he,  "whoe'er  they  be,  I  trow  they'll  find  us 
ready."  — 

v. 

By  this  the  knight  who  rode  with  him  had  turned  his  horse's  head, 
And  up  the  glen  in  fearful  trim  unto  the  camp  had  fled. 
"  Ha  !  gone  ?  "  quoth  ( iarci  Perez  ;  —  he  smiled,  and  said  no  more, 
But  slowly  with  his  esquire  rode  as  he  rode  before. 

VI. 

It  was  the  Count  Lorenzo,  just  then  it  happened  so, 

He  took  his  stand  by  Ferdinand,  and  with  him  gazed  below  ; 

"  My  liege,"  quoth  he,  "  seven  Moors  I  see  a-coming  from  the  wood, 

Now  bring  they  all  the  blows  they  may,  I  trow  they'll  find  as  good  ; 

But  it  is  Don  Garci  Perez,  if  his  cognizance  they  know, 

I  guess  it  will  be  little  pain  to  give  them  blow  for  blow."  — 

VII. 

The  Moors  from  forth  the  greenwood  came  riding  one  by  one, 
A  gallant  troop  with  armour  resplendent  in  the  sun  ; 
Full  haughty  was  their  bearing,  as  o'er  the  sward  they  came, 
While  the  calm  Lord  of  Vargas  his  march  was  still  the  same. 


VIII. 

They  stood  drawn  up  in  order,  while  past  them  all  rode  he, 
For  when  upon  his  shield  they  saw  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Tree, 
And  the  wings  of  the  Black  Eagle,  that  o'er  his  crest  were  spread, 
They  knew  it  was  Card  Perez,  and  never  a  word  they  said. 

IX. 

He  took  the  casque  from  off  his  head,  and  gave  it  to  the  squire, 
"  My  friend,"  quoth  he,  "  no  need  I  see  why  I  my  brows  should 
tire."  — 


76  GARCI  PEREZ  DE    VARGAS. 

But  as  he  doffed  the  helmet,  he  saw  his  scarf  was  gone,  — 

"  I've  dropt  it  sure,"  quoth  Garci,  "  when  I  put  my  helmet  on." 


x. 


He  looked  around  and  saw  the  scarf,  for  still  the  Moors  were  near, 
And  they  had  picked  it  from  the  sward,  and  looped  it  on  a  spear  ; 
"  These  Moors,"  quoth  Garci  Perez,  "  uncourteous  Moors  they  be  — 
Now,  by  my  soul,  the  scarf  they  stole,  yet  durst  not  question  me  ! 


XI. 


"  Now,  reach  once  more  my  helmet."  —  The  esquire  said  him  nay, 
"For  a  silken  string   why  should   ye  fling   perchance    your   life 

away?  "  — 

"  I  had  it  from  my  lady,"  quoth  Garci,  "  long  ago, 
And  never  Moor  that  scarf,  be  sure,  in  proud  Seville  shall  show."  - 


XII. 


But  when  the  Moslem  saw  him,  they  stood  in  firm  array, 

—  He  rode  among  their  armed  throng,  he  rode  right  furiously ; 

— "  Stand,  stand,  ye   thieves  and  robbers,  lay  down  my  lady's 

pledge  ! "  — 
He  cried,  and  ever  as  he  cried  they  felt  his  falchion's  edge. 


XIII. 


That  day  when  the  Lord  of  Vargas  came  to  the  camp  alone, 
The  scarf,  his  lady's  largess,  around  his  breast  was  thrown ; 
Bare  was  his  head,  his  sword  was  red,  and  from  his  pommel  strung, 
Seven  turbans  green,  sore  hacked  I  ween,  before  Garci  Perez  hung. 


THE  POUNDER.  77 


THE   POUNDER. 


A  BALLAD  concerning  another  doughty  knight  of  the  same  fam- 
ily and  most  probably,  considering  the  date,  a  brother  of  Garci 
Perez  de  Vargas.  Its  story  is  thus  alluded  to  in  Don  Quixote,  in 
the  chapter  of  The  Windmills  :  — 

"  However,  the  loss  of  his  lance  was  no  small  affliction  to  him  ; 
and  as  he  was  making  his  complaint  about  it  to  his  squire,  '  I  have 
read,'  said  he, '  friend  Sancho,  that  a  certain  Spanish  knight,  whose 
name  was  Diego  Perez  de  Vargas,  having  broken  his  sword  in  the 
heat  of  an  engagement,  pulled  up  by  the  roots  a  huge  oak-tree,  or 
at  least  tore  down  a  massy  branch,  and  did  such  wonderful  execu- 
tion, crushing  and  grinding  so  many  Moors  with  it  that  day,  that 
he  won  himself  and  his  posterity  the  sirname  of  The  Pounder  or 
Bruiser.1  I  tell  this,  because  I  intend  to  tear  up  the  next  oak,  or 
holm-tree,  we  meet ;  with  the  trunk  whereof  I  hope  to  perform 
such  wondrous  deeds,  that  thou  wilt  esteem  thyself  particularly 
happy  in  having  had  the  honour  to  behold  them,  and  been  the 
ocular  witness  of  achievements  which  posterity  will  scarce  be  able 
to  believe.'  — '  Heaven  grant  you  may,'  cried  Sancho  :  '  I  believe 
it  all,  because  your  worship  says  it.' " 


THE  Christians  have  beleaguered  the  famous  walls  of  Xeres, 
Among  them  are  Don  Alvar  and  Don  Diego  Perez, 
And  many  other  gentlemen,  who,  day  succeeding  day, 
Give  challenge  to  the  Saracen  and  all  his  chivalry. 

H. 

When  rages  the  hot  battle  before  the  gates  of  Xeres, 

By  trace  of  gore  ye  may  explore  the  dauntless  path  of  Perez. 

1  Machuca,  from  Machucar,  to  pound  as  in  a  mortar. 


78  THE  POUNDER. 

No  knight  like  Don  Diego  —  no  sword  like  his  is  found 
In  all  the  host,  to  hew  the  boast  of  Paynims  to  the  ground. 


m. 


It  fell  one  day  when  furiously  they  battled  on  the  plain, 
Diego  shivered  both  his  lance  and  trusty  blade  in  twain ; 
The  Moors  that  saw  it  shouted,  for  esquire  none  was  near, 
To  serve  Diego  at  his  need  with  falchion,  mace,  or  spear. 


IV. 

Loud,  loud  he  blew  his  bugle,  sore  troubled  was  his  eye, 
But  by  God's  grace  before  his  face  there  stood  a  tree  full  nigh, 
A  comely  tree  with  branches  strong,  close  by  the  walls  of  Xeres  — 
"Yon  goodly  bough  will  serve  I  trow,"  quoth  Don  Diego  Perez. 

v. 

A  gnarled  branch  he  soon  did  wrench  down  from  that  olive  strong, 
Which  o'er  his  head-piece  brandishing,  he  spurs  among  the  throng. 
God  wot !  full  many  a  Pagan  must  in  his  saddle  reel  !  — 
What  leech  shall  cure,  what  priest  shall  shrive,  if  once  that  weight 
ye  feel? 

VI. 

But  when  Don  Alvar  saw  him  thus  bruising  down  the  foe, 
Quoth  he,  "  I've  seen  some  flail-armed  man  belabour  barley  so  ! 
Sure  mortal  mould  did  ne'er  enfold  such  mastery  of  power ; 
Let's  call  Diego  Perez  THE  POUNDER  '  from  this  hour. 

1  MACHUCA. 


THE  MURDER    OF  THE  MASTER    OF  ST.  IAGO.         79 
THE 

MURDER   OF   THE   MASTER   OF    ST.    IAGO. 


THE  next  four  ballads  relate  to  the  history  of  DON  PEDRO,  King 
of  Castile,  called  THE  CRUEL. 

An  ingenious  person  not  long  ago  published  a  work,  the  avowed 
purpose  of  which  was  to  prove  that  Tiberius  was  a  humane  and 
contemplative  prince,  who  retired  to  the  Island  of  Capreae  only 
that  he  might  the  better  indulge  in  the  harmless  luxury  of  philo- 
sophic meditation :  —  and,  in  like  manner,  Pedro  The  Cruel  has 
found,  in  these  latter  times,  his  defenders  and  apologists ;  above 
all,  Voltaire. 

There  may  be  found,  without  doubt,  in  the  circumstances  which 
attended  his  accession,  something  to  palliate  the  atrocity  of  several 
of  his  bloody  acts.  His  father  had  treated  his  mother  with  con- 
tempt :  he  had  not  only  entertained,  as  his  mistress,  in  her  life- 
time, a  lady  of  the  powerful  family  of  Guzman,  but  actually 
proclaimed  that  lady  his  queen,  and  brought  up  her  sons  as  princes 
in  his  palace  ;  nay,  he  had  even  betrayed  some  intentions  of  violat- 
ing, in  their  favour,  the  order  of  succession,  and  the  rights  of  Pedro. 
And,  accordingly,  no  sooner  was  Alphonso  dead,  and  Pedro 
acknowledged  by  the  nobility,  than  Donna  Leonora  de  Guzman, 
and  her  sons,  whether  from  consciousness  of  guilt,  or  from  fear  of 
violence,  or  from  both  of  these  causes,  betook  themselves  to  various 
places  of  strength,  where  they  endeavoured  to  defend  themselves 
against  the  authority  of  the  new  King.  After  a  little  time,  matters 
were  so  far  accommodated  by  the  interference  of  friends,  that 
Donna  Leonora  took  up  her  residence  at  Seville ;  but  Pedro  was 
suddenly,  while  in  that  city,  seized  with  a  distemper  which  his 
physicians  said  must,  in  all  probability,  have  a  mortal  termination ; 
and  during  his  confinement  (which  lasted  for  several  weeks) ,  many 
intrigues  were  set  a-foot,  and  the  pretensions  of  various  candidates 
for  the  throne  openly  canvassed  among  the  nobility  of  Castile. 

Whether  the  King  had,  on  his  recovery,  discovered  anything 
indicative  of  treasonous  intentions  in  the  recent  conduct  of  Leonora 


80          THE  MUhDER    OF   T1U    MASTER    OF  ST.   I  AGO. 

and  her  family  (which,  all  things  considered,  seems  not  improbable), 
or  whether  he  merely  suffered  himself,  as  was  said  at  the  time,  to 
be  over-persuaded  by  the  vindictive  arguments  of  his  own  mother, 
the  queen-dowager,  the  fact  is  certain,  that  in  the  course  of  a  few 
days,  Donna  Leonora  was  arrested,  and  put  to  death  by  Pedro's 
command,  in  the  Castle  of  Talaveyra.  Don  Fadrique  (or  Fred- 
erick), one  of  her  sons,  who  had  obtained  the  dignity  of  Master  of 
the  order  of  St.  lago,  fled  upon  this  into  Portugal,  and  foitified 
himself  in  the  city  of  Coimbra ;  while  another  of  them,  Don  l-'n- 
rique,  or  Henry,  Lord  of  Trastamara,  took  refuge  at  the  Court  of 
Arragon,  openly  renouncing  his  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Castile, 
and  professing  himself  henceforth,  in  all  things,  the  subject  and 
vassal  of  the  prince  who  gave  him  protection. 

Henry  of  Trastamara  was,  from  this  time,  the  declared  and  active 
enemy  of  his  brother ;  and.  in  consequence  of  his  influence,  and 
that  of  his  mother's  kindred,  but  most  of  all,  in  consequent  c  of 
Don  Pedro's  own  atrocious  proceedings,  Castile  itself  was  filled 
with  continual  tumults  and  insurrections. 

Don  Fadrique,  however,  made  his  peace  with  Pedro.  After  a  lapse 
of  many  months,  he  was  invited  to  come  to  the  court  at  Sc  ville, 
and  take  his  share  in  the  amusements  of  an  approaching  tourna- 
ment. He  accepted  the  invitation,  but  was  received  with  terrible 
coldness,  and  immediately  executed  within  the  palace.  The  friends 
of  Pedro  asserted  that  the  King  had  that  very  day  detected  Ton 
Fadrique  in  a  correspondence  with  his  brother,  Henry  of  Trastamara, 
and  the  Arragonese  ;  while  popular  belief  attributed  the  slaughter 
of  the  Master  to  the  unhappy  influence  which  the  too  celebrated 
Maria  de  Padilla  had  long  ere  this  begun  to  exercise  over  Pedro's 
mind. 

Maria  was  often,  in  consequence  of  her  close  intimacy  with 
Jews,  called  by  the  name  of  their  hated  race  ;  but  she  was  in  reality 
not  only  of  Christian,  but  of  noble  descent  in  Spain.  However 
that  might  be,  Pedro  found  her  in  the  family  of  his  minister,  Allni 
querque,  where  she  had  been  brought  up,  loved  her  with  all  the 
violence  of  his  temper,  and  made  her  his  wife  in  all  things  but  the 
name.  Although  political  motives  induced  him,  not  long  after- 
wards, to  contract  an  alliance  with  a  princess  of  the  French  blood 
royal, — the  unfortunate  Blanche  of  Bourbon, — he  lived  with  his 
young  queen  but  a  few  days,  and  then  deserted  her  for  ever,  for 
the  sake  of  this  beautiful,  jealous  and  imperious  mistress. 

The  reader  will  observe,  that  there  is  a  strange  peculiarity  in  the 
structure  of  the  ballad  which  narrates  the  Murder  of  the  Master 


THE  MURDER  Ol-  Tilt:.  MASTER  OF  ST.  /AGO.    81 

ot  St.  lago.      The   unfortunate    Fadrique   is   introduced   in   the 
beginning  of  it  as  telling  his  own  story,  and  so  he  carries  it  on,  in 
the  first  person,  until  the  order  for  his  execution  is  pronounced 
by  Pedro.     The  sequel  is  given  as  if  by  another  voice.     I  can  suj 
pose  this  singularity  to  have  had  a  musical  origin. 
The  Master  was  slain  in  the  year  1358. 


"  I  SAT  alone  in  Coimbra —  the  town  myself  had  ta'en,— 
When  came  into  my  chamber,  a  messenger  from  Spain  ; 
There  was  no  treason  in  his  look,  an  honest  look  he  wore  ; 
I  from  his  hand  the  letter  took,  —  my  brother's  seal  it  bore. 


n. 

" '  Come,  brother  dear,  the  day  draws  near  '  ('twas  thus  bespoke 

the  King), 

'  For  plenar  court  and  knightly  sport,  within  the  listed  ring.'  - 
Alas  !  unhappy  Master,  I  easy  credence  lent ; 
Alas  !  for  fast  and  faster  I  at  his  bidding  went. 

in. 

"  When  I  set  off  from  Coimbra,  and  passed  the  bound  of  Spain, 
I  had  a  goodly  company  of  spearmen  in  my  train  ; 
A  gallant  force,  a  score  of  horse,  and  sturdy  mules  thirteen  : 
With  joyful  heart  I  held  my  course  —  my  years  were  young  and 
green. 

rv. 

••  A  journey  of  good  fifteen  days  within  the  week  was  done, 
I  halted  not,  though  signs  I  got,  dark  tokens  many  a  one ; 
A  strong  stream  mastered  horse  and  mule,  I  lost  my  poniard  fine 
And  left  a  page  within  the  pool,  a  faithful  page  of  mine. 

v. 

••  Vet  on  to  proud  Seville  I  rode ;  when  to  the  gate  I  came, 
Before  me  stood  a  man  of  God,  to  warn  me  from  the  same ; 
Tne  words  he  spake  I  would  not  hear,  his  grief  I  would  not  see, 
I  seek,  said  I,  my  brother  dear  —  I  will  not  stop  for  thee. 


S2    THE  MURDER  OF  Till-'.  MASTER  OF  ST.  /AGO. 

VI. 

"  No  lists  were  closed  upon  the  sand,  for  royal  tourney  dight ; 
No  pawing  horse  was  seen  to  stand,  I  saw  no  armed  knight ; 
Yet  aye  I  gave  my  mule  the  spur,  and  hastened  through  the  town, 
I  stopt  before  his  palace-door,  then  gaily  leapt  I  down. 

VII. 

"  They  shut  the  door,  my  trusty  score  of  friends  were  left  behind  ; 
I  would  not  hear  their  whispered  fear,  no  harm  was  in  my  mind  ; 
I  greeted  Pedro,  but  he  turned  —  I  wot  his  look  was  cold  ; 
His  brother  from  his  knees  he  spurned  —  '  Stand  off,  thou  Master 
bold  — 

VIII. 

" '  Stand  off,  stand  off,  thou  traitor  strong,'  'twas  thus  he  said  to 

me, 
'Thy  time  on  earth  shall  not  be  long — what  brings  thee  to  my 

knee? 

My  Lady  craves  a  New-year's  gift,  and  I  will  keep  my  word  ; 
Thy   head  methinks  may  serve   the  shift — Good  yeoman,  draw 

thy  sword.'  " 

IX. 

The  Master  lay  upon  the  floor  ere  well  that  word  was  said, 
Then  in  a  charger  off  they  bore  his  pale  and  bloody  head  ; 
They  brought  it  to  Padilla's  chair,  they  bowed  them  on  the  knee, 
"  King  Pedro  greets  thee,  Lady  fair,  his  gift  he  sends  to  thee."- 

x. 

She  gazed  upon  the  Master's  head,  her  scorn  it  could  not  scare, 
And  cruel  were  the  words  she  said,  and  proud  her  glances  were  ; 
'•  Thou  now  shalt  pay,  thou  traitor  base,  the  debt  of  many  a  year, 
My  dog   shall   lick   that  haughty  face ;  no    more    that   lip    shall 
sneer."  — 

XI. 

She  seized  it  by  the  clotted  hair,  and  o'er  the  window  flung ; 
The  mastiff  smelt  it  in  his  lair,  forth  at  her  cry  he  sprung ; 
The  mastiff  that  had  crouched  so  low  to  lick  the  Master's  hand, 
He  tossed  the  morsel  to  and  fro,  and  licked  it  on  the  sand. 


THE   Ml'RDER    OF  THE  MASTER    OF  ST.   IAGO.         83 

XII. 

And  ever  as  the  mastiff  tore,  his  bloody  teeth  were  shown, 
With  growl  and  snort  he  made  his  sport,  and  picked  it  to  the  bone. 
The  baying  of  the  beast  was  loud,  and  swiftly  on  the  street 
1  here  gathered  round  a  gaping  crowd,  to  see  the  mastiff  eat. 


XIII. 

Then  out  and  spake  King  Pedro,  —  "What  governance  is  this? 
The  rabble  rout,  my  gate  without,  torment  my  dogs,  I  wiss."  — 
Then  out  and  spake  King  Pedro's  page,  "  It  is  the  Master's  head, 
The  mastiff  tears  it  in  his  rage,  therewith  they  him  have  fed."  — 


xrv. 

Then  out  and  spake  the  ancient  Nurse,  that  nursed  the  brothers 

twain, 

':  ( )n  thee,  King  Pedro,  lies  the  curse,  thy  brother  thou  hast  slain ; 
A  thousand  harlots  there  may  be  within  the  realm  of  Spain, 
But  where  is  she  can  give  to  thee  thy  brother  back  again?  "  — 


xv. 

Came  darkness  o'er  King  Pedro's  brow,  when  thus  he  heard  her 

say; 

He  sorely  rued  the  accursed  vow  he  had  fulfilled  that  day ; 
He  passed  unto  his  paramour,  where  on  her  couch  she  lay, 
Leaning  from  out  her  painted  bower,  to  see  the  mastiffs  play. 


XVI. 

He  drew  her  to  a  dungeon  dark,  a  dungeon  strong  and  deep ; 
•!  My  father's  son  lies  stiff  and  stark,  and  there  are  few  to  weep. 
Fadrique's  blood  for  vengeance  calls,  his  cry  is  in  mine  ear ; 
Thou  art  the  cause,  thou  harlot  false,  in  darkness  lie  thou  here." 


84  THE   DEATH  OF  QUEEN  BLANCHE. 


THE 

DEATH   OF   QUEEN   BLANCHE. 


THAT  Pedro  was  accessory  to  the  violent  death  of  this  young 
and  innocent  Princess  whom  he  had  married,  and  immediately 
afterwards  deserted  for  ever,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  This  atro- 
cious deed  was  avenged  abundantly;  for  it  certainly  led,  in  the 
issue,  to  the  downfall  and  death  of  Pedro  himself. 

Mariana  says,  very  briefly,  that  the  injuries  sustained  by  Queen 
Blanche  had  so  much  offended  many  of  Pedro's  own  nobility,  that 
they  drew  up  a  formal  remonstrance,  and  presented  it  to  him  in  a 
style  sufficiently  formidable ;  and  that  he,  his  proud  and  fierce 
temper  being  stung  to  madness  by  what  he  considered  an  unjusti- 
fiable interference  with  his  domestic  concerns,  immediately  gave 
orders  for  the  poisoning  of  Blanche  in  her  prison. 

In  the  old  French  Memoirs  of  Du  Guesclin,  a  much  more  im- 
probable story  is  told  at  great  length.  The  Queen  Blanche,  accord- 
ing to  this  account,  had  been  banished  to  Medina,  the  adjoining 
territory  being  assigned  to  her  for  her  maintenance.  One  of  her 
vassals,  a  Jew,  presumed  to  do  his  homage  in  the  usual  fashion, 
that  is  by  kissing  Blanche  on  the  cheek,  ere  his  true  character  was 
suspected  either  by  her  or  her  attendants.  No  sooner  was  the  man 
known  to  be  a  Jew,  than  he  was  driven  from  the  presence  of  the 
Queen  with  every  mark  of  insult ;  and  this  sunk  so  deeply  into  his 
mind,  that  he  determined  to  revenge  himself,  if  possible,  by  the 
death  of  Blanche.  He  told  his  story  to  Maria  de  Padilla,  who  pre- 
vailed on  the  King  to  suffer  him  to  take  his  own  measures ;  and  he 
accordingly  surprised  the  Castle  of  Medina  by  night,  at  the  head  of 
a  troop  of  his  own  countrymen,  and  butchered  the  unhappy  lady. 

The  ballad  itself  is.  in  all  likelihood.  ;is  trustworthy  as  any  other 
authority  ;  but  the  true  particulars  of  such  a  crime  were  pretty  sure 
to  be  kept  concealed. 


THE  DEATH  OF  QUEEN  BLAiJCllE.  85 

"  MARIA  DE  PADILLA,  be  not  thus  of  dismal  mood, 

For  if  I  twice  have  wedded  me,  it  all  was  for  thy  good ;  * 

"  But  if  upon  Queen  Blanche  ye  will  that  I  some  scorn  should  show, 
For  a  banner  to  Medina  my  messenger  shall  go  ; 

"The  work  shall  be  of  Blanche's  tears,  of  Blanche's  blood  the 

ground ; 
Such  pennon  shall  they  weave  for  thee,  such  sacrifice  be  found."  — 

Then  to  the  Lord  of  Ortis,  that  excellent  baron, 

He  said,  "  Now  hear  me,  Ynigo,  forthwith  for  this  begone."— 

Then  answer  made  Don  Ynigo,  "  Such  gift  I  ne'er  will  bring, 
For  he  that  harmeth  Lady  Blanche  doth  harm  my  lord  the  king." 

Then  Pedro  to  his  chamber  went,  his  cheek  was  burning  red, 
And  to  a  bowman  of  his  guard  the  dark  command  he  said. 

The  bowman  to  Medina  passed  ;  when  the  Queen  beheld  him  near, 
"  Alas  !  "  she  said,  "  my  maidens,  he  brings  my  death,  I  fear."  — 

Then  said  the  archer,  bending  low,  "  The  King's  commandment  take, 
And  see  thy  soul  be  ordered  well  with  God  that  did  it  make. 

"  For  lo  !  thine  hour  is  come,  therefrom  no  refuge  may  there  be."  — 
Then  gently  spake  the  Lady  Blanche,  "  My  friend,  I  pardon  thee ; 

"  Do  what  thou  wilt,  so  be  the  King  hath  his  commandment  given, 
Deny  me  not  confession  —  if  so,  forgive  ye  Heaven."  — 

Much  grieved  the  bowman  for  her  tears,  and  for  her  beauty's  sake, 
While  thus  Queen  Blanche  of  Bourbon  her  last  complaint  did 
make ;  — 

1  According  to  Mariana,  Pedro  had  not  declared  himself  married  to  Maria 
dc  Padilla,  at  the  period  of  Queen  Blanche's  death. 


86  THE  DEATH  OF  QUEEN  BLANCHE. 

"  Oh  France  !  my  noble  country  —  oh  blood  of  high  Bourbon, 
Not  eighteen  years  have  I  seen  out  before  my  life  is  gone. 


"  The  King  hath  never  known  me.     A  virgin  true  I  die. 
Whate'er  I've  done,  to  proud  Castile  no  treason  e'er  did  I. 

"The  crown  they  put  upon  my  head  was  a  crown  of  blood  and  sighs. 
God  grant  me  soon  another  crown  more  precious  in  the  skies. "- 

These  words  she  spake,  then  down  she  knelt,  and  took  the  bow- 
man's blow  — 
Her  tender  neck  was  cut  in  twain,  and  out  her  blood  did  flow. 


THE  DEATH   OF  DON  PEDRO.  87 


THE   DEATH    OF    DON   PEDRO. 


THE  reader  may  remember,  that  when  Don  Pedro  had,  by  his 
excessive  cruelties,  quite  alienated  from  himself  the  hearts  of  the 
great  majority  of  his  people,  Don  Henry  of  Trastamara,  Ms  natural 
brother,  who  had  spent  many  years  in  exile,  returned  suddenly  into 
Spain  with  a  formidable  band  of  French  auxiliaries,  by  whose  aid 
lie  drove  Pedro  out  of  his  kingdom.  The  voice  of  the  nation  was 
on  Henry's  side,  and  he  took  possession  of  the  throne  without  fur- 
ther opposition. 

Pedro,  after  his  treatment  of  Queen  Blanche,  could  have  noth- 
ing to  hope  from  the  crown  of  France,  so  he  immediately  threw 
himself  into  the  arms  of  England.  And  our  Edward,  the  Black 
Prince,  who  then  commanded  in  Gascony,  had  more  than  one 
obvious  reason  for  taking  up  his  cause. 

The  Prince  of  Wales  marched  with  Don  Pedro  into  Spain,  at  the 
head  of  an  army  of  English  and  Gascon  veterans,  whose  disciplined 
valour  Mariana  very  frankly  confesses,  gave  them  a  decided  supe- 
riority over  the  Spanish  soldiery  of  the  time.  Henry  was  so  unwise 
as  to  set  his  stake  upon  a  battle,  and  was  totally  defeated  in  the 
field  of  Najara.  Unable  to  rally  his  flying  troops,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  make  his  escape  beyond  the  Pyrenees ;  and  Don  Pedro 
once  more  established  himself  in  his  kingdom.  —  The  battle  of 
Xajara  took  place  in  1366. 

But,  in  1368,  when  the  Black  Prince  had  retired  again  into  Gas- 
cony,  Henry,  in  his  turn,  came  back  from  exile  with  a  small  but 
gallant  army,  most  of  whom  were  French,  commanded  by  the  cele- 
brated Bertram  I)u  Gleasquin,  or,  as  he  is  more  commonly  called, 
Du  Guesclin  — and  animated,  as  was  natural,  by  strong  thirst  of 
vengeance  for  the  insults,  which,  in  the  person  of  Blanche,  Pedro 
had  heaped  upon  the  royal  line  of  their  country,  and  the  bio  >d  of 
St.  Louis. 

Henry  of  Trastamara  advanced  into  the  heart  of  La  Mam  ha, 
and  there  encountered  Don  Pedro,  at  the  head  of  an  army  six 
times  more  numerous  than  that  which  he  commanded,  but  com- 


88  THE  DEATH  OF  DOX  PEDRO. 

posed  in  a  great  measure  of  Jews,  Saracens,  and  Portuguese,  — 
miscellaneous  auxiliaries,  who  gave  way  before  the  ardour  of  the 
French  chivalry,  so  that  Henry  remained  victorious,  and  Pedro  was 
compelled  to  take  refuge  in  the  neighbouring  castle  of  Montiel. 
That  fortress  was  so  strictly  blockaded  by  the  successful  enemy, 
that  the  king  was  compelled  to  attempt  his  escape  by  night,  with 
only  twelve  persons  in  his  retinue,  —  Ferdinand  de  Castro  being 
the  person  of  most  note  among  them. 

As  they  wandered  in  the  dark,  they  were  encountered  by  a  body 
of  French  cavalry  making  the  rounds,  commanded  by  an  adven- 
turous knight,  called  Le  Begue  de  Villaines.  Compelled  to  sur- 
render, Don  Pedro  put  himself  under  the  safeguard  of  this  officer, 
promising  him  a  rich  ransom,  if  he  would  conceal  him  from  the 
knowledge  of  his  brother  Henry.  The  knight,  according  to  Frois- 
sart,  promised  him  concealment,  and  conveved  him  to  his  own 
quarters. 

I  Jut  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  Henry  was  apprized  that  he  was 
taken,  and  came  with  some  of  his  followers  to  the  tent  of  Allan  de 
la  Houssaye,  where  his  unfortunate  brother  had  been  placed.  On 
entering  the  chamber,  he  exclaimed,  "  Where  is  that  whore-son 
and  Jew,  who  calls  himself  King  of  Castile?"-  —  Pedro,  as  proud 
and  fearless  as  he  was  cruel,  stepped  instantly  forward  and  replied, 
"  Here  I  stand,  the  lawful  son  and  heir  of  Don  Alphonso,  and  it  is 
thou  that  art  but  a  false  bastard."  The  rival  brethren  instantly 
grappled  like  lions,  the  French  knights  and  I  Hi  Guesclin  himself 
looking  on.  Henry  drew  his  poniard  and  wounded  Pedro  in  the 
face,  but  his  body  was  defended  by  a  coat-of-mail ;  a  violent  strug- 
gle ensued  :  —  Henry  fell  across  a  bench,  and  his  brother  being 
uppermost,  had  well-nigh  mastered  him,  when  one  of  Henry's  fol- 
lowers seizing  Don  Pedro  by  the  leg,  turned  him  over,  and  his 
master,  thus  at  length  gaining  the  upper-hand,  instantly  stabbed 
the  King  to  the  heart. 

Froissart  calls  this  man  the  Vicompte  de  Roquebetyn,  and  othrr> 
the  Bastard  of  Anisse.  Menard,  in  his  History  of  Du  Guesrlin,  says. 
that  while  all  around  gazed  like  statues  on  the  furious  struggle  of 
the  brothers,  Du  Guesclin  exclaimed  to  this  attendant  of  Henry. 
"  What !  will  you  stand  by  and  see  your  master  placed  at  such  a 
pass  by  a  false  renegade? — Make  forward  and  aid  him,  for  well 
you  may." 

Pedro's  head  was  cut  off,  and  his  remains  were  meanly  buried. 
They  were  afterwards  disinterred  by  his  daughter,  the  wife  of  our 
own  John  of  Gaunt,  "  time-honoured  Lancaster,"  and  deposited 


THE  DEATH   OF  DOX  PEDRO.  89 

in  Seville,  with  the  honours  due  to  his  rank.  His  memory  was 
regarded  with  a  strange  mixture  of  horror  and  compassion,  which 
recommended  him  as  a  subject  for  legend  and  for  romance.  He 
had  caused  his  innocent  wife  to  be  assassinated,  —  had  murdered 
three  of  his  brothers,  —  and  committed  numberless  cruelties  upon 
his  subjects.  He  had,  which  the  age  held  equally  scandalous,  held 
a  close  intimacy  with  the  Jews  and  Saracens,  and  had  enriched 
him  at  the  expense  of  the  church.  Yet,  in  spite  of  all  these  crimes, 
his  undaunted  bravery  and  energy  of  character,  together  with  the 
strange  circumstances  of  his  death,  excited  milder  feelings  towards 
his  memory. 

The  following  ballad,  which  describes  the  death  of  Don  Pedro, 
was  translated  by  a  friend.1  It  is  quoted  more  than  once  by  Cer- 
vantes in  Don  Quixote. 


HENRY  and  King  Pedro  clasping, 
Hold  in  straining  arms  each  other ; 

Tugging  hard,  and  closely  grasping, 

Brother  proves  his  strength  with  brother. 

ii. 

Harmless  pastime,  sport  fraternal, 
Blends  not  thus  their  limbs  in  strife ; 

Either  aims,  with  rage  infernal, 
Naked  dagger,  sharpened  knife. 

in. 

Close  Don  Henry  grapples  Pedro, 

Pedro  holds  Don  Henry  strait, 
Breathing,  this,  triumphant  fury, 

That,  despair  and  mortal  hate. 

IV. 

Sole  spectator  of  the  struggle, 

Stands  Don  Henry's  page  afar, 
In  the  chase  who  bore  his  bugle, 

And  who  bore  his  sword  in  war. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,"  says  Lockhart  himself,  edition  of  1853. 


90  THE  DEATH  OF  DON  PEDRO. 

V. 

Down  they  go  in  deadly  wrestle, 
Down  upon  the  earth  they  go, 

Fierce  King  Pedro  has  the  vantage, 
Stout  Don  Henry  falls  below. 

VI. 

Marking  then  the  fatal  crisis, 
Up  the  page  of  Henry  ran, 

By  the  waist  he  caught  Don  Pedro, 
Aiding  thus  the  fallen  man. 

VII. 

"  King  to  place,  or  to  depose  him, 
Dwelleth  not  in  my  desire, 

But  the  duty  which  he  owes  him, 
To  his  master  pays  the  squire." — 

VIII. 

Now  Don  Henry  has  the  upmost, 
Now  King  Pedro  lies  beneath, 

In  his  heart  his  brother's  poniard 
Instant  finds  its  bloody  sheath. 

IX. 

Thus  with  mortal  gasp  and  quiver, 
While  the  blood  in  bubbles  welled, 

Fled  the  fiercest  soul  that  ever 
In  a  Christian  bosom  dwelled. 


THE  PROCLAMATION  Ol-  KING  HEXRY,  91 


THE 


PROCLAMATION   OF    KING   HENRY. 


THE  following  ballad,  taking  up  the  story  where  it  is  left  in  the 
preceding  one,  gives  us  the  Proclamation  and  Coronation  of  Don 
Henry,  surnamed,  from  the  courtesy  of  his  manners,  El  Cavallero, 
and  the  grief  of  Pedro's  lovely  and  unhappy  mistress,  Maria  de 
Padilla.  From  its  structure  and  versification,  I  have  no  doubt 
it  is  of  much  more  modern  origin  than  most  of  those  in  the  first 
Cancionero. 

The  picture  which  Mariana  gives  us  of  Don  Pedro,  the  hero 
of  so  many  atrocious  and  tragical  stories,  is  to  me  very  striking. 
"  He  was  pale  of  complexion,"  says  the  historian ;  "  his  features 
were  high  and  well  formed,  and  stamped  with  a  certain  authority 
of  majesty,  his  hair  red,  his  figure  erect,  even  to  stiffness ;  he  was 
bold  and  determined  in  action  and  in  council ;  his  bodily  frame 
sank  under  no  fatigues,  his  spirit  under  no  weight  of  difficulty  or 
of  danger.  He  was  passionately  fond  of  hawking,  and  all  violent 
exercises. 

"  In  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  he  administered  justice  among 
private  individuals  with  perfect  integrity.  But  even  then  were 
visible  in  him  the  rudiments  of  those  vices  which  grew  \vith  his 
age,  and  finally  led  him  to  his  ruin ;  such  as  a  general  contempt 
and  scorn  of  mankind,  an  insulting  tongue,  a  proud  and  difficult 
ear,  even  to  those  of  his  household.  These  faults  were  discernible 
even  in  his  tender  years  ;  to  them,  as  he  advanced  in  life,  were 
added  avarice,  dissolution  in  luxury,  an  utter  hardness  of  heart, 
and  a  remorseless  cruelty."  -—  MARIANA,  Book  XVI.  ch.  10. 

The  reader  will  find  almost  the  whole  of  Don  Pedro's  history 
clothed  in  a  strain  of  glowing  and  elegant  poetry,  in  the  Baron 
de  la  Motte  Fouque.  See  his  "  Bertrand  Du  Guesclin,  historisches 
ritter-gedicht." 


92  THE   PROCLAMATION  OF  KL\G  1IEXRY. 


Ax  the  feet  of  Don  Henrique  now  King  Pedro  dead  is  lying, 

Not  that  Henry's  might  was  greater,  but  that  blood  to  Heaven 

was  crying.  f 

Though  deep  the  dagger  had  its  sheath  within  his  brother's  breast, 
Firm  on  the  frozen  throat  beneath  Don  Henry's  foot  is  prest. 


n. 

So  dark  and  sullen  is  the  glare  of  Pedro's  lifeless  eyes, 
Still  half  he  fears  what  slumbers  there  to  vengeance  may  arise. 
So  stands  the  brother,  on  his  brow  the  mark  of  blood  is  seen, 
Yet  had  he  not  been  Pedro's  Cain,  his  Cain  had  Pedro  been. 


in. 

Close  round  the  scene  of  cursed  strife,  the  armed  knights  appear 

Of  either  band,  with  silent  thoughts  of  joyfulness  or  fear; 

All  for  a  space,  in  silence,  the  fratricide  survey, 

Then  sudden  bursts  the  mingling  voice  of  triumph  and  dismay. 


IV. 

Glad  shout  on  shout  from  Henry's  host  ascends  unto  the  sky ; 
"God  save   King  Henry  —  save  the  King — King  Henry!"   is 

their  cry. 

But  Pedro's  Barons  clasp  their  brows,  in  sadness  stand  they  near, 
Whate'er  to  others  he  had  been,  their  friend  lies  murdered  here. 


v. 

The  deed,  say  those,  was  justly  done  —  a  tyrant's  soul  is  sped  ; 
These  ban  and  curse  the  traitorious  blow,  by  which  a  King  is 

dead. 
"  Now  see,"  cries  one,  "  how  Heaven's  amand  asserts  the  people's 

rights ;  " 
Another  — "  God   will    judge    the    hand    that    God's    anointed 

smites."  — 


THE  PROCLAMATION  OF  KING   HENRY.  93 


VI. 


"  The  Lord's  vicegerent,"  quoth  a  priest,  "  is  sovereign  of  the  land, 
And  he  rebels  'gainst  heaven's  behest,  that  slights  his  King's  com- 
mand." — 

"  Now  Heaven  be  witness,  if  he  sinned,"  thus  speaks  a  gallant  young, 
"  The  fault  was  in  Padilla's  eye  that  o'er  him  magic  flung  ;  — 


VII. 


"  Or  if  no  magic  be  her  blame,  so  heavenly  fair  is  she, 

The  wisest,  for  so  bright  a  dame,  might  well  a  sinner  be. 

Let  none  speak  ill  of  Pedro  —  No  Roderick  hath  he  been  ; 

He  dearly  loved  fair  Spain,  although  'tis  true  he  slew  the  Queen." 


VIII. 


The  words  he  spake  they  all  might  hear,  yet  none  vouchsafe  reply, 
"  God  save  great  Henry  —  save  the  King —  King  Henry  ! "  is  the  cry  ; 
While  Pedro's  liegemen  turn  aside,  their  groans  are  in  your  ear, 
"  Whate'er  to  others  he  hath  been,  our  friend  lies  slaughtered 
here  ! " 


IX. 


No  paltry  souls  are  wanting  among  King  Pedro's  band, 
That,  now  their  King  is  dead,  draw  near  to  kiss  his  murderer's  hand. 
The  false  cheek  clothes  it  in  a  smile,  and  laughs  the  hollow  eye, 
And  wags  the  traitor  tongue  the  while  with  flattery's  ready  lie. 


x. 


The  valour  of  the  King  that  is  —  the  justice  of  his  cause  — 
The  blindness  and  the  tyrannies  of  him  the  King  that  was  — 
All  —  all  are  doubled  in  their  speech,  yet  truth  enough  is  there 
To  sink  the  spirit  shivering  near,  in  darkness  of  despair. 

XI. 

The  Murder  of  the  Master,1  the  tender  Infants' 2  doom, 

And  blessed  Blanche's  thread  of  life  snapt  short  in  dungeon's  gloom, 

1  The  Master  of  the  order  of  Saint  lago. 

2  Two  younger  brothers  [sons  of  his  father  by  Leonora  de  Guzman],  who 
were  taken  off  by  Don  Pedro,  when  irritated  by  the  first  rebellion  of  Don  En- 
rique of  Trastamara. 


94  THE   PROCLAMATION   OF  KL\G   lll-.XRY. 

tVith  tragedies  yet  unrevealed,  that  stained  the  King's  abode, 
15y  lips  his  bounty  should  have  sealed  are  blazoned  black  abroad. 

XII. 

\Vhom  served  he  most  at  others'  cost,  most  loud  they  rend  the 

sky, 
"God  save  great  Henry  —  save  our  King  —  King  Henry  !  "  is  the 

cry. 

Hut  still,  amid  too  many  foes,  the  grief  is  in  your  ear 
Of  dead  King  Pedro's  faithful  few — "Alas  !  our  lord  lies  here."  — 

XIII. 

But  others'  tears,  and  others'  groans,  what  are  they  matched  with 

thine, 

Maria  de  Padilla  —  thou  fatal  concubine  ! 
Because  she  is  King  Henry's  slave,  the  damsrl  weepeth  sore, 
Because  she's  Pedro's  widowed  love,  alas  !  she  weepeth  more. 

XIV. 

"O  Pedro  !  Pedro  !  "  hear  her  cry  —  "  how  often  did  I  say 
That  wicked  counsel  and  weak  trust  would  haste  thy  life  away  !  "  — 
She  stands  upon  her  turret  top,  she  looks  down  from  on  high, 
Where  mantled  in  his  bloody  cloak  she  sees  her  lover  lie. 

xv. 

Low  lies  King  Pedro  in  his  blood,  while  bending  down  ye  see 
Caitiffs  that  trembled  ere  he  spake,  crouched  at  his  murderer's 

knee  ; 

They  place  the  sceptre  in  his  hand,  and  on  his  head  the  (Town, 
And  trumpets  clear  are  blown,  and  bells  are  merry  through  the 

town. 

XVI. 

The  sun  shines  bright,  and  the  gay  rout  with  clamours  rend  the 

sky, 
"  God  save  great  Henry  —  save  the  King  —  King  Henry  !  "  is  the 

cry; 

But  the  pale  Lady  weeps  above,  with  many  a  bitter  tear. 
Whate'er  he  was,  he  was  her  love,  and  he  lies  slaughtered  here. 


Till-.    I'KOCI.AMATION  OF  KING  ItENRY.  95 


XVII. 


At  first,  in  silence  down  her  cheek  the  drops  of  sadness  roll, 
But  rage  and  anger  come  to  break  the  sorrow  of  her  soul ; 
The  triumph  of  her  haters  —  the  gladness  of  their  cries, 
Knkindle  flames  of  ire  and  scorn  within  her  tearful  eyes. 


XVIII. 


In  her  hot  cheek  the  blood  mounts   high,  as  she  stands  gazing 

down, 

Now  on  proud  Henry's  royal  state,  his  robe  and  golden  crown, 
And  now  upon  the  trampled  cloak  that  hides  not  from  her  view 
The  slaughtered  Pedro's  marble  brow,  and  lips  of  livid  hue. 


XIX. 

With  furious  grief  she  twists   her  hands   among   her  long  black 

hairs, 

And  all  from  off  her  lovely  brow  the  blameless  locks  she  tears ; 
She  tears  the  ringlets  from  her  front,  and  scatters  all  the  pearls 
King  Pedro's  hand  had  planted  among  the  raven  curls. 

xx. 

"Stop,  caitiff  tongues!"  —  they  hear  her  not  —  "King   Pedro's 

love  am  I." 
They  heed  her  not  —  "  God  save  the  King  —  great  Henry  !  "  still 

they  cry. 

She  rends  her  hair,  she  wrings  her  hands,  but  none  to  help  is  near, 
"God  look  in  vengeance  on  their  deed,  my  lord  lies  murdered 

here  !  "  — 

XXI. 

Away  she  flings  her  garments,  her  broidered  veil  and  vest, 
As  if  they  should  behold  her  love  within  her  lovely  breast  — 
As  if  to  call  upon  her  foes  the  constant  heart  to  see, 
Where  Pedro's  form  is  still  enshrined,  and  evermore  shall  be. 

XXII. 

But  none  on  fair  Maria  looks,  by  none  her  breast  is  seen,  — 
Save  angry  Heaven  remembering  well  the  murder  of  the  Queen, 
The  wounds  of  jealous  harlot  rage,  which  virgin  blood  must  stanch, 
And  all  the  scorn  that  mingled  in  the  bitter  cup  of  Blanche. 


%  THE  PROCLAMATION  OF  KIXG  UEXRY. 

XXIII. 

The  utter  coldness  of  neglect  that  haughty  spirit  stings, 
As  if  a  thousand  fiends  were  there,  with  all  their  flapping  wing-.  ; 
She  wraps  the  veil  about  her  head,  as  if  'twere  all  a  dream  — 
The   love  —  the    murder — and    the  wrath  —  and    that  rebellion. 


scream  ; 


XXIV. 


For  still  there's  shouting  on  the  plain,  and  spurring  far  and  nigh, 
"God    save  the  King  —  Amen!   amen!  —  King  Henry!"  is  the 

cry- 
While  Pedro  all  alone  is  left,  upon  his  bloody  bier, 
Not  one  remains  to  cry  to  God,  "  Our  lord  lies  murdered  here  ! >; 


THE  LORD   OF  BUTRAGO.  97 


THE   LORD   OF   BUTRAGO. 


[The  incident  to  which  the  following  Ballad  relates,  is  supposed  to  have  oc- 
curred on  the  famous  field  of  Aljubarrota,  where  King  Juan  the  First  of  Castile 
was  defeated  by  the  Portuguese.  The  King,  who  was  at  the  time  in  a  feeble 
state  of  health,  exposed  himself  very  much  during  the  action;  and  being 
wounded,  had  great  difficulty  in  making  his  escape. — The  battle  was  fought 
A.D.  1385.] 


"  YOUR  horse  is  faint,  my  King,  my  Lord,  your  gallant  horse  is 

sick, 

His  limbs  are  torn,  his  breast  is  gored,  on  his  eye  the  film  is  thick ; 
Mount,  mount  on  mine,  oh,  mount  apace,  I  pray  thee  mount  and 

fly! 
Or  in  my  arms  I'll  lift  your  grace  —  their  trampling  hoofs  are  nigh. 

n. 

"  My  King,  my  King,  you're  wounded  sore ;  the  blood  runs  from 

your  feet, 

But  only  lay  a  hand  before,  and  I'll  lift  you  to  your  seat : 
Mount,  Juan,  for  they  gather  fast  —  I  hear  their  coming  cry ; 
Mount,  mount,  and  ride  for  jeopardy —  I'll  save  you  though  I  die  1 

in. 

"  Stand,  noble  steed,  this  hour  of  need  —  be  gentle  as  a  lamb ; 
I'll  kiss  the  foam  from  off  thy  mouth  —  thy  master  dear  I  am. 
Mount,  Juan,  mount,  whate'er  betide,  away  the  bridle  fling, 
And  plunge  the  rowels  in  his  side  —  My  horse  shall  save  my  King  ! 

rv. 

"  Nay,  never  speak  ;  my  sires,  Lord  King,  received  their  land  from 

yours, 
And  joyfully  their  blood  shall  spring,  so  be  it  thine  secures  : 


98 


THE   LORD    OF  Bi'TKAGO. 


If  I  should  fly,  and  thou,  my  King,  be  found  among  the  dead, 
How  could  I  stand  'mong  gentlemen,  such  scorn  on  my  grey 
head? 

v. 

'•  Castile's  proud  dames  shall  never  point  the  finger  of  disdain, 
And  say — there's  ONE  that  ran  away  when  our  good  lords  were 

slain,  — 

I  leave  Diego  in  your  care  —  you'll  fill  his  father's  place  : 
Strike,  strike  the  spur,  and  never  spare  —  God's  blessing  on  your 

grace  ! "  — 

VI. 

So  spake  the  brave  Montanez,  Butrago's  Lord  was  he ; 
And  turned  him  to  the  coming  host  in  steadfastness  and  glee  ; 
He  flung  himself  among  them,  as  they  came  down  the  hill ; 
He  died,  God  wot !  but  not  before  his  sword  had  drunk  its  fill. 


THE  KING   OF  ARRAGON.  99 


THE   KING   OF   ARRAGON. 


THE  following  little  Ballad  represents  the  supposed  feelings  of 
Alphonso,  King  of  Arragon,  on  surveying  Naples,  after  he  had  at 
last  obtained  possession  of  that  city,  and  driven  Rene"  of  Anjou l 
from  the  south  of  Italy.  "  The  King  of  Arragon,"  says  Mariana, 
"  entered  Naples  as  victor  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  second 
of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  four  hundred,  and 
forty-two." 

The  brother,  whose  death  is  represented  as  saddening  the 
King's  triumph,  was  Don  Pedro  of  Arragon,  who  was  killed  "by 
the  fourth  rebound  of  a  cannon-ball,"  very  soon  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  siege  of  Naples.  "  When  the  King  heard  of 
these  woeful  tidings,"  says  Mariana,  "  he  hastened  to  the  place 
where  the  body  had  been  laid,  and  kissing  the  breast  of  the  dead 
man,  said, '  Alas  !  my  brother,  what  different  things  had  I  expected 
of  thee  !  God  help  thy  soul ! '  And  with  that  he  wept  and 
groaned,  and  then  turning  to  his  attendants,  '  Alas,'  said  he,  '  my 
comrades,  we  have  lost  this  day  the  flower  of  all  our  chivalry.' 
Don  Pedro  died  in  the  bloom  of  his  youth,  being  just  twenty- 
seven  years  old,  and  having  never  been  married.  He  had  been 
in  many  wars,  and  in  all  of  them  he  had  won  honour." — MARIANA, 
Book  XXL  chap.  13. 

Who  was  the  favourite  boy  (Pagezico),  whose  death  the  King 
also  laments  in  the  ballad,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find. 

1  Joanna  II.,  Queen  of  Naples,  left  her  crown  by  will  to  Rene  of  Anjou, 
who  had  thus  a  double  claim  to  it,  for  he  was  the  descendant  of  the  ancient  An- 
gevine  dynasty,  founded  by  Charles  of  Anjou,  brother  to  Louis  IX.  of  France, 
in  1265,  but  he  never  possessed  it.  The  city  and  kingdom  were  conquered 
by  Alphonso  V.,  King  of  Arragon.  Ren6  is  well  known  to  English  readers 
as  the  father  of  Henry  VI.'s  brave  Queen  Margaret.  [Editor's  note.] 


100 


THE  KING    OF  ARRAGON. 


ONE  day,  the  King  of  Arragon,  from  the  old  citadel, 
Looked  down  upon  the  sea  of  Spain,  as  the  billows  rose  and  fell ; 
He  looked  on  ship  and  galley,  some  coming  and  some  going. 
With  all  their  prize  of  merchandize,  and  all  their  streamers  flowing. 


n. 


Some  to  Castile  were  sailing,  and  some  to  Barbary  — 
And  then  he  looked  on  Naples,  that  great  city  of  the  sea : 
"  O  city  ! "  saith  the  King,  "  how  great  hath  been  thy  cost, 
For  thee  I  twenty  years,  my  fairest  years,  have  lost ! 


in. 


"  By  thee  I  have  lost  a  brother ;  —  never  Hector  was  more  brave  ; 
High  cavaliers  have  dropped  their  tears  upon  my  brother's  grave  :  — 
Much  treasure  hast  thou  cost  me,  and  a  little  boy  beside, 
(Alas  !  thou  woeful  city  !)  for  whom  I  would  have  died." 


THE    VOW   OF  THE  MOOR  RED U AN, 
THE 

VOW   OF   THE   MOOR   REDUAN. 


THE  marriage  of  Ferdinand  the  Catholic  and  Donna  Isabella, 
having  united  the  forces  of  Arragon  and  Castile,  the  total  ruin  of 
the  Moorish  power  in  Spain  could  no  longer  be  deferred.  The 
last  considerable  fragment  of  their  once  mighty  possessions  in  the 
Peninsula,  was  Granada ;  but  the  fate  of  Malaga  and  Cadiz  gave 
warning  of  its  inevitable  fall,  while  internal  dissensions,  and  the 
weakness  of  King  Boabdil,  hastened  and  facilitated  that  great 
object  of  Ferdinand's  ambition. 

The  following  is  a  version  of  certain  parts  of  two  ballads  ;  in- 
deed, the  Moor  Reduan  is  the  hero  of  a  great  many  more.  The 
subject  is,  as  the  reader  will  perceive,  the  rash  vow  and  tragical 
end  of  a  young  and  gallant  soldier,  allied,  as  it  would  appear,  to 
the  blood  of  the  last  Moorish  King  of  Granada,  Boabdil,  or,  as  he 
is  more  generally  called  by  the  Spanish  writers,  El  rey  Chiquito, 
i.e.  The  Little  King. 


THUS  said  before  his  Lords  the  King  to  Reduan, 
"  Tis  easy  to  get  words,  deeds  get  we  as  we  can  ; 
Remember'st  thou  the  feast  at  which  I  heard  thee  saying, 
'Twere  easy  in  one  night  to  make  me  Lord  of  Jaen  ? 

ii. 

"  Well  in  my  mind  I  hold  the  valiant  vow  was  said ; 
Fulfil  it,  boy,  and  gold  shall  shower  upon  thy  head ; 
But  bid  a  long  farewell,  if  now  thou  shrink  from  doing, 
To  bower  and  bonnibell,  thy  feasting,  and  thy  wooing."- 


102  THE    VOW  OF  THE  MOOR  REDUAN. 

III. 

"  I  have  forgot  the  oath,  if  such  I  e'er  did  plight, 
But  needs  their  plighted  troth  to  make  a  soldier  fight? 
A  thousand  sabres  bring,  we'll  see  how  we  may  thrive."  — 
"  One  thousand  ! "  quoth  the  King ;  "  I  trow   thou   shalt   have 
five."  — 

IV. 

They  passed  the  Elvira  gate,1  with  banners  all  displayed, 
They  passed  in  mickle  state,  a  noble  cavalcade  ;  — 
What  proud  and  pawing  horses,  what  comely  cavaliers, 
What  bravery  of  targets,  what  glittering  of  spears  ! 

v. 

What  caftans  blue  and  scarlet,  what  turbans  pleached  of  green ; 
What  waving  of  their  crescents  and  plumages  between ; 
What  buskins  and  what  stirrups,  what  rowels  chased  in  gold, 
What  handsome  gentlemen,  what  buoyant  hearts  and  bold  ! 

VI. 

In  midst,  above  them  all,  rides  he  who  rules  the  band, 
Yon  feather  white  and  tall  is  the  token  of  command. 
He  looks  to  the  Alhambra,2  whence  bends  his  mother  down  ; 
"  Now  Alia  save  my  boy,  and  merciful  Mahoun  !  " 

VII. 

But  'twas  another  sight  —  when  Reduan  drew  near 
To  look  upon  the  height  where  Jaen's  towers  appear ; 
The  fosse  was  wide  and  deep,  the  walls  both  tall  and  strong, 
And  keep  was  matched  with  keep  the  battlements  along. 

VIII. 

It  was  a  heavy  sight,  but  most  for  Reduan  ; 
He  sighed,  as  well  he  might,  ere  thus  his  speech  began,  — 
"  O  Jaen,  had  I  known  how  high  thy  bulwarks  stand, 
My  tongue  had  not  outgone  the  prowess  of  my  hand. 

1  One  of  the  gates  of  Granrula  — that  looking  towards  Elvira. 

2  The  fanioim  I'.il  K  c  of  (he  Moorish  Kings  of  C.ranada. 


THE    VOW  OF   THE  MOOR  RED L' AX.  103 

IX. 

"  But  since  in  hasty  cheer  I  did  my  promise  plight 
(What  well  might  cost  a  year)  to  win  thee  in  a  night, — 
The  pledge  demands  the  paying.     I  would  my  soldiers  brave 
Were  half  as  sure  of  Jaen,  as  I  am  of  my  grave. 

x. 

"  My  penitence  comes  late,  my  death  lags  not  behind ; 

I  yield  me  up  to  fate,  since  hope  I  may  not  find."  — 

With   that  he  turned  him  round ;  —  "  Now  blow  your  trumpets 

high  ! " 
But  every  spearman  frowned,  and  dark  was  every  eye.  — 

XI. 

But  when  he  was  aware  that  they  would  fain  retreat, 
He  spurred  his  bright  bay  mare,  I  wot  her  pace  was  fleet ; 
He  rides  beneath  the  walls,  and  shakes  aloft  his  lance, 
And  to  the  Christians  calls,  if  any  will  advance. 

XII. 

With  that  an  arrow  flew  from  o'er  the  battlement, 
Young  Reduan  it  slew,  sheer  through  the  breast  it  went. 
He  fell  upon  the  green,  —  "  Farewell,  my  bonny  bay  !  "  — 
Right  soon,  when  this  was  seen,  broke  all  the  Moor  array. 


104  THE  FLIGHT  FROM  G  KAN  AD  A. 


THE   FLIGHT   FROM   GRANADA. 


[The  following  Ballad  describes  the  final  departure  of  the  weak  and  unfor- 
tunate Boabdil  from  Granada. 

In  point  of  fact,  the  Moorish  King  came  out  and  received  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  in  great  form  and  pomp,  at  the  gates  of  his  lost  city,  presenting  thtm 
with  the  keys  on  a  cushion,  and  in  abject  terms  entreating  their  protection  for 
his  person. 

The  valley  of  Purchena,  in  Murcia,  was  assigned  to  him  for  his  place  of  res- 
idence, and  a  handsome  revenue  provided  for  the  maintenance  of  him  and  his 
family;  but  after  a  little  while,  "not  having  resolution,"  as  Mariana  expresses 
it,  "  to  endure  a  private  life  in  the  country  where  he  had  so  long  reigned  a 
King,"  he  went  over  to  Barbary.1 

The  entrance  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  into  Granada  took  place  on  Friday 
the  6th  of  January,  1492.] 


THERE  was  crying  in  Granada  when  the  sun  was  going  down, 
Some  calling  on  the  Trinity,  some  calling  on  Mahoun  ; 
Here  passed  away  the  Koran,  there  in  the  Cross  was  borne, 
And  here  was  heard  the  Christian  bell,  and   there  the  Moorish 
horn; 

ii. 

Te  Deum  Laudamus  was  up  the  Alcala  sung : 
Down  from  the  Alhambra's  minarets  were  all  the  crescents  flung  ; 
The  arms  thereon  of  Arragon  they  with  Castile's  display ; 
One  king  comes  in  in  triumph,  one  weeping  goes  away. 

in. 

Thus  cried  the  weeper,  while  his  hands  his  old  white  beard  did 

tear, 

"  Farewell,  farewell,  Granada  !  thou  city  without  peer ; 
Woe,  woe,  thou  pride  of  Heathendom,  seven  hundred  years  and 

more 
Have  gone  since  first  the  faithful  thy  royal  sceptre  bore. 

1  He  took  service  under  the  King  of  Fez,  and  died  fighting  with  that  mon- 
arch's enemies. 


THE  FLIGHT  FROM   GRANADA.  105 

IV. 

"  Thou  wert  the  happy  mother  of  an  high  renowned  race ; 
Within  thee  dwelt  a  haughty  line  that  now  go  from  their  place  ; 
Within  thee  fearless  knights  did  dwell,  who  fought  with   mickle 

glee  — 
The  enemies  of  proud  Castile,  the  bane  of  Christientie. 

v. 

""The  mother  of  fair  dames  wert  thou,  of  truth  and  beauty  rare, 
Into  whose  arms  did  courteous  knights  for  solace  sweet  repair ;  — 
For  whose  dear  sakes  the  gallants  of  Afric  made  display 
Of  might  in  joust  and  battle  on  many  a  bloody  day  : 

VI. 

"  Here  gallants  held  it  little  thing  for  ladies'  sake  to  die, 
Or  for  the  Prophet's  honour,  and  pride  of  Soldanry  ;  — 
For  here  did  valour  flourish,  and  deeds  of  warlike  might 
Ennobled  lordly  palaces,  in  which  was  our  delight. 

VII. 

"The  gardens  of  thy  Vega,1  its  fields  and  blooming  bowers  — 
Woe,  woe  !  I  see  their  beauty  gone,  and  scattered  all  their  flowers. — 
No  reverence  can  he  claim  the  King  that  such  a  land  hath  lost, 
On  charger  never  can  he  ride,  nor  be  heard  among  the  host  — 
But  in  some  dark  and  dismal  place,  where  none  his  face  may  see, 
There  weeping  and  lamenting,  alone  that  King  should  be."  — 

VIII. 

Thus  spake  Granada's  King  as  he  was  riding  to  the  sea, 
About  to  cross  Gibraltar's  Strait  away  to  Barbary  :  — 
Thus  he  in  heaviness  of  soul  unto  his  Queen  did  cry.  — 
( He  had  stopped  and  ta'en  her  in  his  arms,  for  together  they  did 
fly.) 

IX. 

"  Unhappy  King  !  whose  craven  soul  can  brook  " — (she  'gan  reply) 
"  To  leave  behind  Granada,  —  who  hast  not  heart  to  die  — 
Now  for  the  love  I  bore  thy  youth  thee  gladly  could  I  slay, 
For  what  is  life  to  leave  when  such  a  crown  is  cast  away?" 

1  The  plain  of  Granada. 


106          THE  DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO   OF  AGUILAR. 

THE 

DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO  OF  AGUILAR. 


THE  Catholic  zeal  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  was  gratified  by 
the  external  conversion  at  least  of  a  great  part  of  the  Moors  of 
Granada ;  but  the  inhabitants  of  the  Sierra  of  Alpuxarra,  a  ridge 
of  mountainous  territory  at  no  great  distance  from  that  city,  resisted 
every  argument  of  the  priests  who  were  sent  among  them,  so  that 
the  royal  order  for  Baptism  was  at  last  enforced  by  arms. 

These  Moorish  mountaineers  resisted  for  a  time,  in  several  of 
their  strongholds ;  but  were  at  last  subdued,  and  in  great  part 
extirpated.  Among  many  severe  losses  sustained  by  the  Spanish 
forces  in  the  course  of  this  hill  warfare,  none  was  more  grievous 
than  that  recorded  in  the  following  ballad.  Don  Alonzo  of  Aguilar 
was  the  elder  brother  of  that  Gonsalvo  Hernandez  y  Cordova  of 
Aguilar,  who  afterwards  became  so  illustrious  as  to  acquire  the 
name  of  THE  GREAT  CAPTAIN. 

The  circumstances  of  Don  Alonzo's  death  are  described  some- 
what differently  by  the  historians.  (See  in  particular,  Mariana, 
Book  XXVII.  chap.  6,  where  no  mention  is  made  of  the  Moors 
throwing  down  stones  on  him  and  his  party,  as  in  the  ballad.) 
This  tragic  story  has  been  rendered  familiar  to  all  English  readers 
by  the  Bishop  of  Dromore's  exquisite  version  of  "  Rio  Verde,  Rio 
Verde." l 


FERNANDO,  King  ot  Arragon,  before  Granada  lies, 

With  dukes  and  barons  many  a  one,  and  champions  of  emprize  ; 

With  all  the  captains  of  Castile  that  serve  his  lady's  crown, 

He  drives  Boabdil  from  his  gates,  and  plucks  the  crescent  down. 

1  See  Percy's  Reliques  of  Ancient  Poe4ry. 


THE  DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO   OF  AGUILAR.          107 
II. 

The  cross  is  reared  upon  the  towers,  for  our  Redeemer's  sake ; 
The  King  assembles  all  his  powers,  his  triumph  to  partake, 
Yet  at  the  royal  banquet,  there's  trouble  in  his  eye  — 
"  Now  speak  thy  wish,  it  shall  be  done,  great  King,"  the  lordlings 
cry. 

HI. 

Then  spake  Fernando,  "  Hear,  grandees  !  which  of  ye  all  will  go, 

And  give  my  banner  in  the  breeze  of  Alpuxar  to  blow  ? 

Those  heights  along,  the  Moors  are  strong ;  now  who,  by  dawn  of 

day, 
Will  plant  the  cross  their  cliffs  among,  and  drive  the  dogs  away  ?  "  — 


IV. 


Then  champion  on  champion  high,  and  count  on  count  doth  look  ; 
And  faltering  is  the  tongue  of  lord,  and  pale  the  cheek  of  duke ; 
Till  starts  up  brave  Alonzo,  the  knight  of  Aguilar, 
The  lowmost  at  the  royal  board,  but  foremost  still  in  war. 


v. 


And  thus  he  speaks  :  "  I  pray,  my  lord,  that  none  but  I  may  go ; 
For  I  made  promise  to  the  Queen,  your  consort,  long  ago, 
That  ere  the  war  should  have  an  end,  I,  for  her  royal  charms, 
And  for  my  duty  to  her  grace,  would  shew  some  feat  of  arms."  — 


VI. 


Much  joyed   the    King   these  words   to   hear  —  he   bids  Alonzo 

speed  — 

And  long  before  their  revel's  o'er  the  knight  is  on  his  steed ; 
Alonzo's  on  his  milk-white  steed,  with  horsemen  in  his  train  — 
A  thousand  horse,  a  chosen  band,  ere  dawn  the  hills  to  gain. 


VII. 


They  ride  along  the  darkling  ways,  they  gallop  all  the  night ; 
They  reach  Nevada  ere  the  cock  hath  harbingered  the  light, 
But  ere  they've  climbed  that  steep  ravine  the  east  is  glowing  red. 
And  the  Moors  their  lances  bright  have  seen,  and  Christian  ban 
ners  spread. 


108          THE  DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO  OF  AGUILAR. 

VIII. 

Beyond  the  sands,  between  the  rocks,  where  the  old  cork-trees 

grow, 

The  path  is  rough,  and  mounted  men  must  singly  march  and  slow ; 
There,  o'er  the  path,  the  heathen  range  their  ambuscade's  line, 
High  up  they  wait  for  Aguilar,  as  the  day  begins  to  shine. 

IX. 

There  nought  avails  the  eagle-eye,  the  guardian  of  Castile, 
The  eye  of  wisdom,  nor  the  heart  that  fear  might  never  feel, 
The  arm  of  strength  that  wielded  well  the  strong  mace  in  the  fray, 
Nor  the  broad  plate,  from  whence  the  edge  of  falchion  glanced 
away. 

x. 

Not  knightly  valour  there  avails,  nor  skill  of  horse  and  spear, 

For  rock  on  rock  comes  rumbling  down  from  cliff  and  cavern 
drear ; 

Down  —  down  like  driving  hail  they  come,  and  horse  and  horse- 
men die, 

Like  cattle  whose  despair  is  dumb  when  the  fierce  lightnings  fly. 

XI. 

Alonzo,  with  a  handful  more,  escapes  into  the  field, 
There  like  a  lion  stands  at  bay,  in  vain  besought  to  yield  ; 
A  thousand  foes  around  are  seen,  but  none  draws  near  to  fight ; 
Afar  with  bolt  and  javelin  they  pierce  the  steadfast  knight. 

XII. 

A  hundred  and  a  hundred  darts  are  hissing  round  his  head ; 
Had  Aguilar  a  thousand  hearts,  their  blood  had  all  been  shed  ; 
Faint  and  more  faint  he  staggers,  upon  the  slippery  sod, 
At  last  his  back  is  to  the  earth,  he  gives  his  soul  to  God. 

XIII. 

With  that  the  Moors  plucked  up  their  hearts  to  gaze  upon  his  face, 
And  caitiffs  mangled  where  he  lay  the  scourge  of  Afric's  race ; 
To  woody  Oxijera  then  the  gallant  corpse  they  drew, 
And  there  upon  the  village-green  they  laid  him  out  to  view. 


THE  DEATH  OF  DON  ALONZO    OF  AGUILAR.          109 
XIV. 

Upon  the  village-green  he  lay  as  the  moon  was  shining  clear, 
And  all  the  village  damsels  to  look  on  him  drew  near ; 
They  stood  around  him  all  a-gaze,  beside  the  big  oak-tree, 
And  much  his  beauty  they  did  praise,  though  mangled  sore  was  he. 

xv. 

Now,  so  it  fell,  a  Christian  dame  that  knew  Alonzo  well, 
Not  far  from  Oxijera  did  as  a  captive  dwell, 
And  hearing  all  the  marvels,  across  the  woods  came  she, 
To  look  upon  this  Christian  corpse,  and  wash  it  decently. 

XVI. 

She  looked  upon  him,  and  she  knew  the  face  of  Aguilar, 
Although  his  beauty  was  disgraced  with  many  a  ghastly  scar ; 
She  knew  him,  and  she  cursed  the  dogs  that  pierced  him  from 

afar, 
And  mangled  him  when  he  was  slain  —  the  Moors  of  Alpuxar. 

XVII. 

The  Moorish  maidens,  while  she  spake,  around  her  silence  kept, 
But  her  master  dragged  the  dame  away  —  then  loud  and  long  they 

wept ; 
They  washed  the  blood,  with  many  a  tear,  from  dint  of  dart  and 

arrow, 
And  buried  him  near  the  waters  clear  of  the  brook  of  Alpuxarra. 


110  THE  DEPARTURE    OF  KING   SEBASTIAN. 

THE 

DEPARTURE   OF   KING   SEBASTIAN. 


[The  reader  is  acquainted  with  the  melancholy  story  of  Sebastian,  King  of 
Portugal.1  It  was  in  1578  that  his  unfortunate  expedition  and  death  took 
place. 

The  following  is  a  version  of  one  of  the  Spanish  ballads,  founded  on  the 
history  of  Sebastian.  There  is  another,  which  describes  his  death,  almost  in 
the  words  of  a  ballad  already  translated,  concerning  King  Juan  I.  of  Castile.] 


IT  was  a  Lusitanian  Lady,  and  she  was  lofty  in  degree, 
Was  fairer  none,  nor  nobler,  in  all  the  realm  than  she ; 
I  saw  her  that  her  eyes  were  red,  as,  from  her  balcony, 
They  wandered  o'er  the  crowded  shore  and  the  resplendent  sea. 

n. 

Gorgeous  and  gay,  in  Lisbon's  Bay,  with  streamers  flaunting  wide, 

Upon  the  gleaming  waters  Sebastian's  galleys  ride, 

His  valorous  armada  (was  never  nobler  sight) 

Hath  young  Sebastian  marshalled  against  the  Moorish  might. 

1  It  is  just  possible  that  the  story  of  Sebastian  (once  well  known  to  the 
general  public  through  Miss  Jane  Porter's  novel)  may  not  be  equally  in  the 
memory  of  all  the  present  readers  of  the  "  Ballads."  Sebastian,  chivalrous  and 
romantic,  sailed  for  Africa  with  the  flower  of  his  nobility  in  1578,  to  do  battle 
on  their  own  soil  with  the  Moors.  He  was  then  only  23  years  of  age.  A 
battle  took  place  at  Alcacer-el-Xebir,  in  which  the  young  king  displayed  re- 
markable valour.  He  rushed  into  the  midst  of  the  Moorish  ranks,  where  he 
disappeared,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  slain.  So  bravely  did  the  Portu- 
guese fight  to  rescue  their  sovereign  that  only  fifty  of  the  gallant  army  Sebastian 
had  brought  over  survived  that  fatal  battle.  The  mystery  which  surrounded 
the  fate  of  the  young  king  led  to  several  claimants  appearing,  who  professed 
to  be  Sebastian,  escaped  from  Moorish  thraldom.  Over  one  of  these  some- 
thing of  the  same  doubt  hovers  which  attended  on  Perkin  Warbeck.  The 
story  of  Sebastian  has  very  recently  (in  1866)  produced  a  very  interesting 
work  entitled,  "  Les  faux  Don  Sebastian.  Etude  sur  1'histoire  de  Portugal 
par  Don  Miguel  d'Antas,"  to  which  we  refer  our  readers.  [Editor's  note.] 


THE  DEPARTURE    OF  KING   SEBASTIAN.  Ill 

III. 

The  breeze  comes  forth  from  the  clear  north,  a  gallant  breeze  there 

blows ; 

Their  sails  they  lift,  then  out  they  drift,  and  first  Sebastian  goes. 
"  May  none  withstand  Sebastian's  hand  —  God  shield  my  King  ! " 

she  said  ; 
Yet  pale  was  that  fair  Lady's  cheek,  her  weeping  eyes  were  red. 

rv. 

She  looks  on  all  the  parting  host,  in  all  its  pomp  arrayed, 
Each  pennon  on  the  wind  is  tost,  each  cognizance  displayed ; 
Each  lordly  galley  flings  abroad,  above  its  armed  prow, 
The  banner  of  the  Cross  of  God,  upon  the  breeze  to  flow. 

v. 

But  one  there  is,  whose  banner,  above  the  Cross  divine, 
A  scarf  upholds,  with  a«ure  folds,  of  love  and  faith  the  sign  : 
Upon  that  galley's  stern  you  see  a  peerless  warrior  stand, 
Though  first  he  goes,  still  back  he  throws  his  eye  upon  the  land. 

VI. 

Albeit  through  tears  she  looks,  yet  well  may  she  that  form  descry, 
Was  never  seen  a  vassal  mien  so  noble  and  so  high ; 
Albeit  the  Lady's  cheek  was  pale,  albeit  her  eyes  were  red, 
"  May   none   withstand   my   true-love's   hand !      God   bless   my 
Knight !  "  she  said. 

VII. 

There  are  a  thousand  Barons,  all  harnessed  cap-a-pee, 

With  helm  and  spear  that  glitter  clear  above  the  dark-green  sea ; — 

No  lack  of  gold  or  silver,  to  stamp  each  proud  device 

On  shield  or  surcoat  —  nor  of  chains  and  jewellery  of  price. 

VIII. 

The  seamen's  cheers  the  Lady  hears,  and  mingled  voices  come, 
From  every  deck,  of  glad  rebeck,  of  trumpet,  and  of  drum ;  — 
"  Who  dare  withstand  Sebastian's  hand  ?  what  Moor  his  gage  may 

fling 
At  young  Sebastian's  feet?"  she  said.  — "The  Lord  hath  blessed 

my  King." 


MOORISH  BALLADS. 


[It  is  sometimes  very  difficult  to  determine  which  of  the  Moorish  Ballads 
ought  to  be  included  in  the  Historical,  which  in  the  Romantic  class :  and  for 
this  reason,  the  following  five  specimens  are  placed  by  themselves.  Several 
Ballads,  decidedly  of  Moorish  origin,  such  as  REDUAN'S  Vow,  —  THE  FLIGHT 
FROM  GRANADA,  &c.,  have  been  printed  in  the  preceding  Section.] 


THE   BULL-FIGHT   OF   GAZUL. 


[Gazul  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  Moorish  heroes  who  figure  in  the  Ifisloria 
de  las  Guerras  Civiles  de  Grenada.  The  following  Ballad  is  one  of  very  many 
in  which  the  dexterity  of  the  Moorish  cavaliers  in  the  bull-fight  is  described. 
The  Reader  will  observe,  that  the  shape,  activity,  and  resolution  of  the  unhappy- 
animal,  destined  to  furnish  the  amusement  of  the  spectators,  are  enlarged  upon, 
just  as  the  qualities  of  a  modern  race-horse  might  be  among  ourselves :  nor  is 
the  bull  without  his  name.~\ 

I. 

KING  ALMANZOR  of  Granada,  he  hath  bid  the  trumpet  sound, 

He  had  summoned  all  the  Moorish  Lords,  from  the  hills  and  plains 

around ; 

From  Vega  and  Sierra,  from  Betis  and  Xenil, 
They  have  come  with  helm  and  cuirass  of  gold  and  twisted  steel. 

ii. 

Tis  the  holy  Baptist's  feast  they  hold  in  royalty  and  state,1 
And  they  have  closed  the  spacious  lists,  beside  the  Alhambra's  gate  ; 
In  gowns  of  black  with  silver  laced  within  the  tented  ring, 
Eight  Moors  to  fight  the  bull  are  placed  in  presence  of  the  King. 

1  The  day  of  the  Baptist  is  a  festival  among  the  Mussulmans,  as  well  as 
among  Christians. 


THE  BULL-FIGHT   OF  GAZUL.  113 

III. 

Eight  Moorish  lords  of  valour  tried,  with  stalwart  arm  and  true, 
The  onset  of  the  beasts  abide,  come  trooping  furious  through  ; 
The  deeds  they've  done,  the  spoils  they've  won,  fill  all  with  hcj  e 

and  trust, 
Yet  ere  high  in  heaven  appears  the  sun,  they  all  have  bit  the  dust. 


rv. 


Then  sounds  the  trumpet  clearly,  then  clangs  the  loud  tambour, 
Make  room,  make  room  for  Gazul  —  throw  wide,  throw  wide  the 

door ; — 

Blow,  blow  the  trumpet  clearer  still,  more  loudly  strike  the  drum, 
The  Alcayd6  of  Agalva  to  fight  the  bull  doth  come. 


v. 


And  first  before  the  King  he  passed,  with  reverence  stooping  low, 
And  next  he  bowed  him  to  the  Queen,  and  the  Infantas  all  a-rowe  ; 
Then  to  his  lady's  grace  he  turned,  and  she  to  him  did  throw 
A  scarf  from  out  her  balcony  was  whiter  than  the  snow. 


VI. 


With  the  life-blood  of  the  slaughtered  lords  all  slippery  is  the  sand, 
Yet  proudly  in  the  centre  hath  Gazul  ta'en  his  stand  ; 
And  ladies  look  with  heaving  breast,  and  lords  with  anxious  eye, 
But  the  lance  is  firmly  in  its  rest,  and  his  look  is  calm  and  high. 


VII. 


Three  bulls  against  the  knight  are  loosed,  and  two  come  roaring 

on, 

He  rises  high  in  stirrup,  forth  stretching  his  rej6n  ; 
Each  furious  beast  upon  the  breast  he  deals  him  such  a  blow, 
He  blindly  totters  and  gives  back  across  the  sand  to  go. 


VIII. 


"Turn,  Gazul,  turn,"  the  people  cry  —  the  third  comes  up  behind. 
Low  to  the  sand  his  head  holds  he,  his  nostrils  snuff  the  wind ;  — 


114  THE  BULL-FIGHT   OF  C.I /('/.. 

The  mountaineers  that  lead  the  steers,  without  stand  whispering 

low, 
•'  Now  thinks  this  proud  Alcayde  to  stun  Harpado  so?" 


IX. 

From  Guadiana  comes  he  not,  he  comes  not  from  Xenil, 
From  Guadalarif  of  the  plain,  or  Barves  of  the  hill  ; 
But  where  from  out  the  forest  burst  Xarama's  waters  clear, 
Beneath  the  oak-trees  was  he  nursed,  this  proud  and  stately  steer. 


x. 

Dark  is  his  hide  on  either  side,  but  the  blood  within  doth  boil, 
And  the  dun  hide  glows,  as  if  on  fire,  as  he  paws  to  the  turmoil. 
His  eyes  are  jet,  and  they  are  set  in  crystal  rings  of  snow  ; 
But  now  they  stare  with  one  red  glare  of  brass  upon  the  foe. 


XI. 

Upon  the  forehead  of  the  bull  the  horns  stand  close  and  near, 
From  out  the  broad  and  wrinkled  skull,  like  daggers  they  appear ; 
His  neck  is  massy,  like  the  trunk  of  some  old  knotted  tree, 
Whereon  the  monster's  shagged  mane,  like  billows  curled,  ye  see. 


XII. 

His  legs  are  short,  his  hams  are  thick,  his  hoofs  are  black  as  night, 
Like  a  strong  flail  he  holds  his  tail  in  fierceness  of  his  might ; 
Like  something  molten  out  of  iron,  or  hewn  from  forth  the  ro<  k. 
Harpado  of  Xarama  stands,  to  bide  the  Alcaydd's  shock. 


XIII. 

•  Now  stops  the  drum  —  close,  close  they  come  —  thrice  meet,  and 

thrice  give  back ; 

The  white  foam  of  Harpado  lies  on  the  charger's  breast  of  black  — 
The  white  foam  of  the  charger  on  Harpado's  front  of  dun  — 
Once  more  advance  upon  his  lance  —  once  more,  thou  fearless 

one  ! 


THE   BULL-FIGHT   OF  GAZTL. 


115 


XIV. 


Once  -more,  once  more  ;  —  in  dust  and  gore  to  ruin  must  thou 

reel  — 

In  vain,  in  vain  thou  tearest  the  sand  with  furious  heel  — 
In  vain,  in  vain,  thou  noble  beast,  I  see,  I  see  thee  stagger, 
Now  keen  and  cold  thy  neck  must  hold  the  stern  Alcayd£'s  dagger  ! 


xv. 


They  have  slipped  a  noose  around  his  feet,  six  horses  are  brought 


m. 


And  away  they  drag  Harpado  with  a  loud  and  joyful  din.  — 
Now  stoop  thee,  lady,  from  thy  stand,  and  the  ring  of  price  bestow 
Upon  Gazul  of  Agalva,  that  hath  laid  Harpado  low. 


116  THE  ZECRrS  BRIDE. 


THE   ZEGRI'S   BRIDE. 


[The  reader  cannot  need  to  he  reminded  of  the  fatal  effects  which  were 
produced  by  the  feuds  subsisting  between  the  two  great  families,  or  rather 
races,  of  the  Zegris  and  the  Abencerrages  of  Granada.  The  following  Ballad 
is  also  from  the  Gutrras  Civile s.~\ 


OF  all  the  blood  of  Zegri,  the.  chief  is  Lisaro, 
To  wield  rej6n  like  him  is  none,  or  javelin  to  throw  ; 
From  the  place  of  his  dominion,  he  ere  the  dawn  doth  go, 
From  Alcala  de  Henares,  he  rides  in  weed  of  woe. 

ii. 

He  rides  not  now  as  he  was  wont,  when  ye  have  seen  him  speed 

To  the  field  of  gay  Toledo,  to  fling  his  lusty  reed  ; 

No  gambeson  of  silk  is  on,  nor  rich  embroidery 

Of  gold-wrought  robe  or  turban  —  nor  jewelled  tahali.1 

in. 

No  amethyst  nor  garnet  is  shining  on  his  brow, 
No  crimson  sleeve,  which  damsels  weave  at  Tunis,  decks  him  now  ; 
The  belt  is  black,  the  hilt  is  dim,  but  the  sheathed  blade  is  bright ; 
They  have  housened  his  barb  in  a  murky  garb,  but  yet  her  hoofs 
are  light. 

IV. 

Four  horsemen  good,  of  the  Zegri  blood,  with  Lisaro  go  out ; 

No  flashing  spear  may  tell  them  near,  but  yet  their  shafts  are  stout ; 

In  darkness  and  in  swiftness  rides  every  armed  knight,  — 

The  foam  on  the  rein  ye  may  see  it  plain,  but  nothing  else  is  white. 

1  Scimitar. 


THE   ZEGRI'S  BRIDE.  117 

V. 

Young  Lisaro,  as  on  they  go,  his  bonnet  doffeth  he, 
Between  its  folds  a  sprig  it  holds  of  a  dark  and  glossy  tree ; 
That  sprig  of  bay,  were  it  away,  right  heavy  heart  had  he  — 
Fair  Zayda  to  her  Zegri  gave  that  token  privily. 

VI. 

And  ever  as  they  rode,  he  looked  upon  his  lady's  boon. 
"  God  knows,"  quoth  he,  "  what  fate  may  be  —  I  may  be  slaugh- 
tered soon ; 
Thou  still  art  mine,  though  scarce  the  sign  of  hope  that  bloomed 

whilere, 
But  in  my  grave  I  yet  shall  have  my  Zayda's  token  dear."  — 

VII. 

Young  Lisaro  was  musing  so,  when  onwards  on  the  path, 

He  well   could   see  them  riding  slow;   then  pricked   he   in   his 

wrath.  — 

The  raging  sire,  the  kinsmen  of  Zayda's  hateful  house, 
Fought  well  that  day,  yet  in  the  fray  the  Zegri  won  his  spouse. 


118  THE  BRIDAL   OF  ANDALLA. 


THE   BRIDAL   OF   ANDALLA. 


[The  following  Ballad  has  been  often  imitated  by  modern  poets,  both  in 
Spain  and  in  Germany  :  — 

Pon  te  a  las  reias  azules,  dexa  la  manga  que  labras, 

Melancholies  Xarifa,  veras  al  galan  Andalla,  &C.J 


"  RISE  up,  rise  up,  Xarifa,  lay  the  golden  cushion  down ; 

Rise  up,  come  to  the  window,  and  gaze  with  all  the  Town. 

From  gay  guitar  and  violin  the  silver  notes  are  flowing, 

And  the  lovely  lute  doth  speak  between  the  trumpet's  lordly  blow- 
ing, • 

And  banners  bright  from  lattice  light  are  waving  everywhere, 

And  the  tall  tall  plume  of  our  cousin's  bridegroom  floats  proudly 
in  the  air : 

Rise  up,  rise  up,  Xarifa,  lay  the  golden  cushion  down ; 

Rise  up,  come  to  the  window,  and  gaze  with  all  the  Town. 

ii. 

"  Arise,  arise,  Xarifa,  I  see  Andalla's  face, 

He  bends  him  to  the  people  with  a  calm  and  princely  grace, 

Through  all  the  land  of  Xeres  and  banks  of  Guadalquiver 

Rode  forth  Bridegroom  so  brave  as  he,  so  brave  and  lovely  never. 

Yon  tall  plume  waving  o'er  his  brow  of  azure  mixed  with  white, 

I  guess  'twas  wreathed  by  Zara,  whom  he  will  wed  to-night ; 

Rise  up,  rise  up,  Xarifa,  lay  the  golden  .cushion  down ; 

Rise  up,  come  to  the  window,  and  gaze  with  all  the  Town. 

in. 

"  What  aileth  thee,  Xarifa,  what  makes  thine  eyes  look  down  ? 
Why  stay  ye  from  the  window  far,  nor  gaze  with  all  the  Town  ? 
I've  heard  you  say  on  many  a  day,  and  sure  you  said  the  truth, 
Andalla  rides  without  a  peer,  among  all  Granada's  youth, 


THE   BRIDAL    OF  AND  ALL  A.  119 

Without  a  peer  he  rideth,  and  yon  milk-white  horse  doth  go 
Beneath  his  stately  master,  with  a  stately  step  and  slow ; 
Then  rise,  oh  rise,  Xarifa,  lay  the  golden  cushion  down ; 
Unseen    here   through   the   lattice,  you   may  gaze   with   all   the 
Town."  — 

IV. 

The  Zegri  Lady  rose  not,  nor  laid  her  cushion  down, 

Nor  came  she  to  the  window  to  gaze  with  all  the  Town  ;  — 

But  though  her  eyes  dwelt  on  her  knee,  in  vain  her  fingers  strove, 

And  though  her  needle  pressed  the  silk,  no  flower  Xarifa  wove  ; 

One  bonny  rose-bud  she  had  traced,  before  the  noise  drew  nigh  — 

That  bonny  bud  a  tear  effaced,  slow  drooping  from  her  eye. 

"  No  —  no,"  she  sighs  —  "  bid  me  not  rise,  nor  lay  my  cushion 

down, 
To  gaze  upon  Andalla  with  all  the  gazing  Town." 

v. 

"  Why. rise  ye  not,  Xarifa,  nor  lay  your  cushion  down? 
Why  gaze  ye  not,  Xarifa,  with  all  the  gazing  Town  ? 
Hear,  hear  the  trumpet  how  it  swells,  and  how  the  people  cry.  — 
He  stops  at  Zara's  palace-gate  —  why  sit  ye  still  —  oh  why?  " 
—  "  At  Zara's  gate  stops  Zara's  mate  ;  in  him  shall  I  discover 
The  dark-eyed  youth  pledged  me  his  truth  with  tears,  and  was  my 

lover  ? 

I  will  not  rise,  with  weary  eyes,  nor  lay  my  cushion  down, 
To  gaze  on  false  Andalla  with  all  the  gazing  Town." 


120  ZARA'S  EAR-RINGS. 


ZARA'S    EAR-RINGS. 


[I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  omit,  in  translating  this  Ballad,  certain  lines,  in 
which  mention  is  made  of  "  the  Mass  "  and  "  the  Marquisses."  Depping 
considers  these  as  the  interpolations  of  a  Spaniard  unskilfully  rendering 
a  Moorish  song.] 

I. 

"  MY  ear-rings  !  my  ear-rings  !  they've  dropt  into  the  well, 

And  what  to  say  to  Muca,  I  cannot,  cannot  tell."  — 

'Twas  thus  Granada's  fountain  by,  spoke  Albuharez'  daughter, 

"  The   well   is   deep,  far   down   they  lie,  beneath  the  cold  blue 

water  — 

To  me  did  Muca  give  them,  when  he  spake  his  sad  farewell, 
And  what  to  say  when  he  comes  back,  alas  !  I  cannot  tell. 

n. 

"  My  ear-rings  !  my  ear-rings  !  they  were  pearls  in  silver  set, 
That  when  my  Moor  was  far  away,  I  ne'er  should  him  forget, 
That  I  ne'er  to  other  tongue  should  list,  nor  smile  on  other's  tale, 
But  remember  he  my  lips  had  kissed,  pure  as  those  ear-rings 

pale  — 
When  he  comes  back,  and  hears  that  I  have  dropped  them  in  the 

well, 
Oh  what  will  Muca  think  of  me,  I  cannot,  cannot  tell. 

in. 

"  My  ear-rings  !  my  ear-rings  !  he'll  say  they  should  have  been, 
Not  of  pearl  and  of  silver,  but  of  gold  and  glittering  sheen, 
Of  jasper  and  of  onyx,  and  of  diamond  shining  clear, 
Changing  to  the  changing  light,  with  radiance  insincere  — 
That  changeful  mind  unchanging  gems  are  not  befitting  well  — 
Thus  will  he  think  —  and  what  to  say,  alas !  I  cannot  tell, 


ZARA'S  EAR-RINGS.  121 

IV. 

•'•  He'll  think  when  I  to  market  went,  I  loitered  by  the  way ; 
He'll  think  a  willing  ear  I  lent  to  all  the  lads  might  say ; 
He'll  think  some  other  lover's  hand,  among  my  tresses  noosed, 
From  the  ears  where  he  had  placed  them,  my  rings  of  pearl  un- 
loosed ; 

He'll  think  when  I  was  sporting  so  beside  this  marble  well, 
My  pearls  fell  in,  —  and  what  to  say,  alas  !  I  cannot  tell. 

v. 

"  He'll  say  I  am  a  woman,  and  we  are  all  the  same ; 
He'll  say  I  loved  when  he  was  here  to  whisper  of  his  flame  — 
But  when  he  went  to  Tunis  my  virgin  troth  had  broken, 
And  thought  no  more  of  Muca,  and  cared  not  for  his  token. 
My  ear-rings  !  my  ear-rings  !  oh  !  luckless,  luckless  well, 
For  what  to  say  to  Muca,  alas  !  I  cannot  tell. 

VI. 

"  I'll  tell  the  truth  to  Muca,  and  I  hope  he  will  believe  — 
That  I  thought  of  him  at  morning,  and  thought  of  him  at  eve ; 
That  musing  on  my  lover,  when  down  the  sun  was  gone, 
His  ear-rings  in  my  hand  I  held,  by  the  fountain  all  alone ; 
And  that  my  mind  was  o'er  the  sea,  when  from  my  hand  they  fell, 
And  that  deep  his  love  lies  in  my 'heart,  as  they  lie  in  the  well." 


122         LAMEMATWX  FOR    THE   DEATH  OF  CELL\. 

THE 

LAMENTATION    FOR   THE  DEATH    OF  CELIX. 


[This  Ballad,  which  celebrates  the  untimely  fate  of  a  Zegri  cavalier,  by  name 
of  Celin,  or  Selim, 

Por  la  puerta  de  la  vega,  &c., 

consists,  as  it  stands  in  the  Romancero,  of  many  more  stanzas  than  I  ha\c 
translated.  But  M.  Depping  points  out  sufficient  evidence  that  some  of  tin -\\\ 
had  been  added  in  the  time  of  Montemayor.] 


AT  the  gate  of  old  Granada,  when  aU-its  bolts  are  barred, 
At  twilight  at  the  Vega  gate  there  is  a  trampling  heard  ; 
There  is  a  trampling  heard,  as  of  horses  treading  slow, 
And  a  weeping  voice  of  women,  and  a  heavy  sound  of  woe. 
"What  tower  is  fallen,  what  star  is  set,  what  chief  come  these  be- 

wailing?" — 
"  A  tower  is  fallen,  a  star  is  set.     Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  !  " 


Three  times  they  knock,  three  times  they  cry,  and  wide  the  doors 

they  throw  ; 

Dejectedly  they  enter,  and  mournfully  they  go  ; 
In  gloomy  lines  they  mustering  stand  beneath  the  hollow  porch, 
Each  horseman  grasping  in  his  hand  a  black  and  flaming  torch  ; 
Wet  is  each  eye  as  they  go  by,  and  all  around  is  wailing, 
For  all  have  heard  the  misery.     "  Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  !  "  — 

in. 

Him  yesterday  a  Moor  did  slay  of  Bencewaje's  blood, 

Twas  at  the  solemn  jousting,  arpund  the  nobles  stood  ; 

The  nobles  of  the  land  were  there,  and  the  ladies  bright  and  fair 

Looked  from  their  latticed  windows,  the  haughty  sight  to  share  ; 

But  now  the  nobles  all  lament,  the  ladies  are  bewailing, 

For  he  was  Granada's  darling  knight.     "  Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  I  "  — 


LAMENTATION  FOR    THE  DEATH  OF  CELIN.         123 

IV. 

Before  him  ride  his  vassals,  in  order  two  by  two, 
With  ashes  on  their  turbans  spread  most  pitiful  to  view ; 
Behind  him  his  four  sisters,  each  wrapped  in  sable  veil, 
Between  the  tambour's  dismal  strokes  take  up  their  doleful  tale ; 
When  stops  the  muffled  drum,  ye  hear  their  brotherless  bewailing, 
And  all  the  people,  far  and  near,  cry  —  "Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  !"  — 

v. 

Oh  lovely  lies  he  on  the  bier  above  the  purple  pall, 

The  flower  of  all  Granada's  youth,  the  loveliest  of  them  all ; 

His  dark,  dark  eyes  are  closed,  his  rosy  lip  is  pale, 

The  crust  of  blood  lies  black  and  dim  upon  his  burnished  mail, 

And  evermore  the  hoarse  tambour  breaks  in  upon  their  wailing, 

Its  sound  is  like  no  earthly  sound  —  "  Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  !  "  — 

VI. 

The  Moorish  maid  at  the  lattice  stands,  the  Moor  stands  at  his 

door, 

One  maid  is  wringing  of  her  hands,  and  one  is  weeping  sore  — 
Down  to  the  dust  men  bow  their  heads,  and  ashes  black  they  strew 
Upon  their  broidered  garments  of  crimson,  green,  and  blue  — 
Before  each  gate  the  bier  stands  still,  then  bursts  the  loud  bewail- 
ing, 
From  door  and  lattice,  high  and  low  —  "  Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  ! " — 

VII. 

An  old  old  woman  cometh  forth,  when  she  hears  the  people  cry ; 
Her  hair  is  white  as  silver,  like  horn  her  glazed  eye. 
Twas  she  that  nursed  him  at  her  breast,  that  nursed  him  long  ago  ; 
She  knows  not  whom  they  all  lament,  but  soon  she  well  shall  know. 
With  one  deep  shriek  she   through   doth  break,  when  her  ears 

receive  their  wailing  — 
"  Let  me  kiss  my  Celin  ere  I  die  — Alas  !  alas  for  Celin  ! " 


ROMANTIC  BALLADS. 


THE   MOOR   CALAYNOS. 


[In  the  following  version  I  have  taken  liberty  to  omit  a  good  many  of  the 
introductory  stanzas  of  the  famous  Cof>las  de  Calainos.  The  reader  will  re- 
member that  this  ballad  is  alluded  to  in  Don  Quixote,  where  the  Knight's 
nocturnal  visit  to  Toboso  is  described. 

It  is  generally  believed  to  be  among  the  most  ancient,  and  certainly  was 
among  the  most  popular,  of  all  the  ballads  in  the  Cancionero.] 


"  I  HAD  six  Moorish  nurses,  but  the  seventh  was  not  a  Moor, 
The  Moors  they  gave  me  milk  enow,  but  the  Christian  gave  me 

lore ; 

And  she  told  me  ne'er  to  listen,  though  sweet  the  words  might  be, 
Till  he  that  spake  had  proved  his  troth,  and  pledged  a  gallant 

fee."  — 

n. 

"  Fair  damsel,"  quoth  Calaynos,  "  if  thou  wilt  go  with  me, 
Say  what  may  win  thy  favour,  and  thine  that  gift  shall  be. 
Fair  stands  the  castle  on  the  rock,  the  city  in  the  vale, 
And  bonny  is  the  red  red  gold,  and  rich  the  silver  pale."  — 

HI. 

"  Fair  sir,"  quoth  she,  "  virginity  I  never  will  lay  down 

For  gold,  nor  yet  for  silver,  for  castle,  nor  for  town ; 

But  I  will  be  your  leman  for  the  heads  of  certain  peers  — 

And  I  ask  but  three  —  Rjnaldo's  —  Roland '$— find  Oljvier's,"  •— 


THE  MOOR    CALAYNOS.  125 

IV. 

He  kissed  her  hand  where  she  did  stand,  he  kissed  her  lips  also, 
And  "  Bring  forth,"  he  cries,  "  my  pennon,  for  to  Paris  I  must 

go-"- 

I  wot  ye  saw  them  rearing  his  banner  broad  right  soon, 
Whereon  revealed  his  bloody  field  its  pale  and  crescent  moon. 

v. 

That  broad  bannere  the  Moore  did  rear,  ere  many  days  were  gone, 
In  foul  disdain  of  Charlemagne,  by  the  church  of  good  Saint  John ; 
In  the  midst  of  merry  Paris,  on  the  bonny  banks  of  Seine, 
Shall  never  scornful  Paynim  that  pennon  rear  again. 

VI. 

His  banner  he  hath  planted  high,  and  loud  his  trumpet  blown, 
That  all  the  twelve  might  hear  it  well  around  King  Charles's  throne ; 
The  note  he  blew  right  well  they  knew ;  both  Paladin  and  Peer 
Had  the  trumpet  heard  of  that  stern  lord  in  many  a  fierce  career. 

VII. 

It  chanced  the  King,  that  fair  morning,  to  the  chace  had  made 

him  bowne, 

With  many  a  knight  of  warlike  might,  and  prince  of  high  renown  ; 
Sir  Reynold  of  Montalban,  and  Glares'  Lord,  Gaston, 
Behind  him  rode,  and  Bertram  good,  that  reverend  old  Baron. 

VIII. 

Black  D'Ardennes'  eye  of  mastery  in  that  proud  troop  was  seen, 
And  there  was  Urgel's  giant  force,  and  Guarinos'  princely  mien ; 
Gallant  and  gay  upon  that  day  was  Baldwin's  youthful  cheer, 
But  first  did  ride,  by  Charles's  side,  Roland  and  Olivier. 

IX. 

Now  in  a  ring  around  the  King,  not  far  in  the  greenwood, 
Awaiting  all  the  huntsman's  call,  it  chanced  the  nobles  stood ; 
"  Now  list,  mine  earls,  now  list ! "  quoth  Charles,  "  yon  breeze 

will  come  again, 
Some  trumpet-note  methinks  doth  float  from  the  bonny  banks  of 

Seine."  — 


126  THE   MOOR    CALAY.YOS. 

X. 

Me  scarce  had  heard  the  trumpet,  the  word  he  scarce  had  said, 
When  among  the  trees  he  near  him  sees  a  dark  and  turhaned 

head ; 

'•'  Now  stand,  now  stand  at  my  command,   hold   Moor,"   quoth 
•        Charlemagne. 
"That  turban  green,  how  dare  it  be  seen  among  the  woods  of 

Seine?"  — 

XI. 

"  My  turban  green  must  needs  be  seen  among  the  woods  of  Seine." 
The  Moor  replied,  "  since  here  I  ride  in  quest  of  Charlemagne  — 
For  I  serve  the  Moor  Calaynos,  and  I  his  defiance  bring 
To  every  lord  that  sits  at  the  board  of  Charlemagne  your  King. 

XII. 

"  Now  lordlings   fair,   if  anywhere  in   the  wood  ye've  seen  him 

riding, 
O  tell  me  plain  the  path  he  has  ta'en  —  there  is  no  cause  for 

chiding ; 

For  my  lord  hath  blown  his  trumpet  by  every  gate  of  Paris  — 
Ixmg  hours  in  vain,  by  the  bank  of  Seine,  upon    his   steed  he 

tarries."  — 

XIII. 

When  the  Emperor  had  heard  the  Moor,  full  red  was  liis  old  cheek, 
"  Go  back,  base  cur,  upon  the  spur,  for  I  am  he  you  seek  — 
Go  back,  and  tell  your  master  to  commend  him  to  Mahoun, 
For  his  soul  shall  dwell  with  him  in  hell,  or  ere  yon  sun  go  down. 

XIV. 

"  Mine  arm  is  weak,  my  hairs  are  grey  "  (thus  spake  King  Charle- 
magne), 

•'  Would  for  one  hour  I  had  the  power  of  my  young  days  again, 
As  when  I  plucked  the  Saxon  from  out  his  mountain  den  — 
O  soon  should  cease  the  vaunting  of  this  proud  Saracen  ! 

xv. 
"  Though  now  mine  arm  be  weakened,  though  now  my  hairs  be 

grey, 
The  hard-won  praise  of  other  days  cannot  be  swept  away  — 


7 '//A'   .UOOK    CAI.AY.VOS.  127 

If  shame  there  be,  my  liegemen,  that  shame  on  you  must  lie  — 
(k>  forth,  go  forth,  good  Roland  ;  to-night  this  Moor  must  die."  — 


Then  out  and  spake  rough  Roland  —  "  Ofttimes  I've  thinned  the 

ranks 

Of  the  hot  Moor,  and  when  all  was  o'er  have  won  me  little  thanks  ; 
Some  carpet  knight  will  take  delight  to  do  this  doughty  feat, 
Whom  damsels  gay  shall  well  repay  with  their  smiles  and  whispers 

sweet !  "  — 

xvn. 

Then  out  and  spake  Sir  Baldwin  —  the  youngest  peer  was  he, 
The  youngest  and  the  comeliest — "  Let  none  go  forth  but  me  ; 
Sir  Roland  is  mine  uncle,  and  he  may  in  safety  jeer, 
But  I  will  shew  the  youngest  may  be  Sir  Roland's  peer."  — 


XVIII. 

"  Nay,  go  not  thou,"  quoth  Charlemagne,  "  thou  art  my  gallant 

youth, 

And  braver  none  I  look  upon ;  but  thy  cheek  it  is  too  smooth  ; 
And  the  curls  upon  thy  forehead  they  are  too  glossy  bright ;  — 
Some  elder  peer  must  couch  his  spear  against  this  crafty  knight."  — 


XIX. 

But  away,  away  goes  Baldwin,  no  words  can  stop  him  now, 
Behind  him  lies  the  greenwood,  he  hath  gained  the  mountain's 

brow, 

He  reineth  first  his  charger,  within  the  church-yard  green, 
Where,  striding  slow  the  elms  below,  the  haughty  Moor  is  seen. 


xx. 

Then  out  and  spake  Calaynos  —  "  Fair  youth,  I  greet  thee  well ; 
Thou  art  a  comely  stripling,  and  if  thou  with  me  wilt  dwell, 
All  for  the  grace  of  thy  sweet  face,  thou  shall  not  lack  thy  fee, 
Within  my  lady's  chamber  a  pretty  page  thou'lt  be."  — 


128  THE  MOOR    CALAYNOS. 


XXI. 

An  angry  man  was  Baldwin,  when  thus  he  heard  him  speak, 

"  Proud  knight,"  quoth  he,  "  I  come  with  thee  a  bloody  spear  to 

break."  — 

Oh,  sternly  smiled  Calaynos,  when  thus  he  heard  him  say,  — 
O  loudly  as  he  mounted  his  mailed  barb  did  neigh. 

XXII. 

One  shout,  one  thrust,  and  in  the  dust  young  Baldwin  lies  full 

low  — 
No  youthful  knight  could  bear  the  might  of  that  fierce  warrior's 

blow; 

Calaynos  draws  his  falchion,  and  waves  it  too  and  fro, 
"  Thy  name  now  say,  and  for  mercy  pray,  or  to  hell  thy  soul  must 

go."- 

XXIII. 

The  helpless  youth  revealed  the  truth.     Then  said  the  conqueror  — 
"  I  spare  thee  for  thy  tender  years,  and  for  thy  great  valour ; 
But  thou  must  rest  thee  captive  here,  and  serve  me  on  thy  knee, 
For  fain  I'd  tempt  some  doughtier  peer  to  come  and  rescue  thee." 

XXIV. 

Sir  Roland  heard  that  haughty  word  (he  stood  behind  the  wall), 
His  heart,  I  trow,  was  heavy  enow,  when  he  saw  his  kinsman  fall ; 
But  now  his  heart  was  burning,  and  never  a  word  he  said, 
But  clasped  his  buckler  on  his  arm,  his  helmet  on  his  head. 

XXV. 

Another  sight  saw  the  Moorish  knight,  when  Roland  blew  his 

horn, 

To  call  him  to  the  combat  in  anger  and  in  scorn ; 
All  cased  in  steel  from  head  to  heel,  in  the  stirrup  high  he  stood, 
The  long  spear  quivered  in  his  hand,  as  if  athirst  for  blood. 

XXVI. 

Then  out  and  spake  Calaynos  —  "  Thy  name  I  fain  would  hear ; 
A  coronet  on  thy  helm  is  set ;  I  guess  thou  art  a  Peer."  — 
Sir  Roland  lifted  up  his  horn,  and  blew  another  blast, 
"No  words,  base  Moor,"  quoth  Roland,  "this  hour  shall  be  thy 
last."  — 


THE  MOOR    CALAYNOS.  129 

xxvn. 

I  wot  they  met  full  swiftly,  I  wot  the  shock  was  rude ; 
Down  fell  the  misbeliever,  and  o'er  him  Roland  stood  ; 

Close  to  his  throat  the  steel  he  brought,  and  plucked  his  beard  full 

sore  — 
"What    devil    brought    thee    hither?  —  speak   out   or   die,    false 

Moor  !"  — 

XXVIII. 

"  Oh  !  I  serve  a  noble  damsel,  a  haughty  maid  of  Spain, 
And  in  evil  day  I  took  my  way,  that  I  her  grace  might  gain  j 

II  or  every  gift  I  offered,  my  lady  did  disdain, 

And  craved  the  ears  of  certain  Peers  that  ride  with  Charlemagne." — 


XXIX. 

Then  loudly  laughed  rough  Roland  —  "  Full  few  will  be  her  tears, 
It  was  not  love  her  soul  did  move,  when  she  bade  thee  beard  THE 

PEERS."  — 

With  that  he  smote  upon  his  throat,  and  spurned  his  crest  in  twain, 
"No  more,"  he  cries,  "this  moon  will  rise  above  the  woods  of 

Seine." 


130  THE  ESCAPE   OF  GAYFEROS. 


THE   ESCAPE   OF   GAYFEROS. 


[The  story  of  Gayfer  de  Bourdeaux  is  to  be  found  at  great  length  in  the 
Romantic  Chronicle  of  Charlemagne;  and  it  has  supplied  the  Spanish  min- 
strels with  subjects  for  a  long  series  of  ballads. 

In  that  which  follows,  Gayferos,  yet  a  boy,  is  represented  as  hearing  frorv 
his  mother  the  circumstances  of  his  father's  death;  and  as  narrowly  escaping 
with  his  own  life,  in  consequence  of  his  step-father's  cruelty.] 


BEFORE  her  knee  the  boy  did  stand,  within  the  dais  so  fair, 
The  golden  shears  were  in  her  hand,  to  clip  his  curled  hair ; 
And  ever  as  she  clipped  the  curls,  such  doleful  words  she  spake, 
That  tears  ran  from  Gayferos'  eyes,  for  his  sad  mother's  sake. 

H. 

"  God  grant  a  beard  were  on  thy  face,  and  strength  thine  arm  within, 
To  fling  a  spear,  or  swing  a  mace,  like  Roland  Paladin  ! 
For  then,  I  think,  thou  would'st  avenge  thy  father  that  is  dead, 
Whom  envious  traitors  slaughtered  within  thy  mother's  bed. 

in. 

"  Their  bridal-gifts  were  rich  and  rare,  that  hate  might  not  be  seen ; 
They  cut  me  garments  broad   and   fair  —  none   fairer  hath  the 

Queen."  — 

Then  out  and  spake  the  little  boy  —  "  Each  night  to  God  I  call, 
And  to  his  blessed  Mother,  to  make  me  strong  and  tall  ! "  — 

IV. 

The  Count  he  heard  Gayferos,  in  the  palace  where  he  lay ;  — 
"  Now  silence,  silence,  Countess  !  it  is  falsehood  that  you  say ; 
I  neither  slew  the  man,  nor  hired  another's  sword  to  slay ;  — 
But,  for  that  the  mother  hath  desired,  be  sure  the  son  shall  pay  !  "  — 


THE  ESCAPE    OF  GAYl-hKOS. 


V. 


The  Count  called  to  his  esquires  (old  followers  were  they, 
Whom  the  dead  Lord  had  nurtured  for  many  a  merry  day), — 
He  bade  them  take  their  old  Lord's  heir,  and  stop  his  tender 

breath  — 
Alas  !  'twas  piteous  but  to  hear  the  manner  of  that  death. 


VI. 

"  List,  esquires,  list,  for  my  command  is  offspring  of  mine  oath  — 
The  stirrup- foot  and  the  hilt- hand  see  that  ye  sunder  both ;  — 
That  ye  cut  out  his  eyes  'twere  best  —  the  safer  he  will  go  — 
And  bring  a  finger  and  the  heart,  that  I  his  end  may  know."  — 

VII. 

The  esquires  took  the  little  boy  aside  with  them  to  go ; 
Yet,  as  they  went,  they  did  repent  —  "  O,  God  !  must  this  be  so? 
How  shall  we  think  to  look  for  grace,  if  this  poor  child  we  slay, 
When  ranged   before  Christ  Jesu's  face  at  the   great  judgment- 
day?"— 

VIII. 

While  they,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  were  standing  in  such  talk, 
The  Countess'  little  lap-dog  bitch, by  chance  did  cross  their  walk ; 
Then  out  and  spake  one  of  the  'squires  (you  may  hear  the  words 

he  said), 
"  I  think  the  coming  of  this  bitch  may  serve  us  in  good  stead  — 

IX. 

"  Let  us  take  out  the  bitch's  heart,  and  give  it  to  Galvan ; 
The  boy  may  with  a  finger  part,  and  be  no  worser  man."  - 
With  that  they  cut  the  joint  away,  and  whispered  in  his  ear, 
That  he  must  wander  many  a  day,  nor  once  those  parts  come  near. 

x. 

"Your  uncle  grace  and  love  will  show ;  he  is  a  bounteous  man ; "  — 
And  so  they  let  Gayferos  go,  and  turned  them  to  Galvan. 
The  heart  and  the  small  finger  upon  the  board  they  laid, 
And  of  Gayferos'  slaughter  a  cunning  story  made. 


132  THE  ESCAPE    OF  GAYFEROS. 


XI. 

The  Countess,  when  she  hears  them,  in  great  grief  loudly  cries : 

Meantime  the  stripling  safely  unto  his  uncle  hies  :  — 

"  Now  welcome,  my  fair  boy,"  he  said,  "  what  good  news  may 

they  be 
Come  with  thee  to  thine  uncle's  hall?" — "Sad  tidings  come  with 

me  — 

XII. 

"  The  false  Galvan  had  laid  his  plan  to  have  me  in  my  grave ; 
But  I've  escaped  him,  and  am  here,  my  boon  from  thee  to  crave : 
Rise  up,  rise  up,  mine  uncle,  thy  brother's  blood  they've  shed ; 
Rise  up  —  they've  slain  my  father  within  my  mother's  bed."  ' 

1  There  is  another  ballad  which  represents  Gayferos,  now  grown  to  be  a 
man,  as  coming  in  the  disguise  of  a  pilgrim  to  his  mother's  house,  and  slaying 
his  step-father  with  his  own  hand.  The  Countess  is  only  satisfied  as  to  his 
identity  by  the  circumstance  of  the  finger,  — 

El  dedo  bien  es  aqueste,  aqui  lo  vereys  faltar 
La  condesa  que  esto  oyera  empezole  de  abracar. 


SV&V3 


aej^a 


MELISENDRA.  133 


MELISENDRA. 


THE  following  is  a  version  of  another  of  the  ballads  concerning 
Gayferos.  —  It  is  the  same  that  is  quoted  in  the  chapter  of  the 
Puppet-show  in  Don  Quixote  :  — 

"  '  Child,  child,'  said  Don  Quixote,  '  go  on  directly  with  your 
story,  and  don't  keep  us  here  with  your  excursions  and  ramblings 
out  of  the  road.  I  tell  you  there  must  be  a  formal  process,  and 
legal  trial,  to  prove  matters  of  fact.'  —  '  Boy,'  said  the  master  from 
behind  the  show,  '  do  as  the  gentleman  bids  you.  Don't  run  so 
much  upon  flourishes,  but  follow  your  plain  song,  without  ven- 
turing on  counterpoints,  for  fear  of  spoiling  all.'  — '  I  will,  sir,' 
quoth  the  boy,  and  so  proceeding :  '  Now,  sirs,  he  that  you  see 
there  a  horseback,  wrapt  up  in  the  Gascoign-cloak,  is  Don  Gay- 
feros himself,  whom  his  wife,  now  revenged  on  the  Moor  for  his 
impudence,  seeing  from  the  battlements  of  the  tower,  takes  him 
for  a  stranger,  and  talks  with  him  as  such,  according  to  the 
ballad, 

'  Quoth  Melisendra,  if  perchance, 
Sir  Traveller,  you  go  for  France, 
For  pity's  sake,  ask  when  you're  there, 
For  Gayferos,  my  husband  dear.' 

"  '  I  omit  the  rest,  not  to  tire .  you  with  a  long  story.  It  is  suffi- 
cient that  he  makes  himself  known  to  her,  as  you  may  guess  by 
the  joy  she  shows  ;  and,  accordingly,  now  see  how  she  lets  herself 
down  from  the  balcony,  to  come  at  her  loving  husband,  and  get 
behind  him  ;  but,  unhappily,  alas  !  one  of  the  skirts  of  her  gown  is 
caught  upon  one  of  the  spikes  of  the  balcony,  and  there  she  hangs 
and  hovers  in  the  air  miserably,  without  being  able  to  get  down. 
But  see  how  Heaven  is  merciful,  and  sends  relief  in  the  greatest 
distress  !  Now  Don  Gayferos  rides  up  to  her,  and,  not  fearing 
to  tear  her  rich  gown,  lays  hold  on  it,  and  at  one  pull  brings  her 
down  ;  and  then  at  one  lift  sets  her  astride  upon  his  horse's  crup- 
per, bidding  her  to  sit  fast,  and  clap  her  arms  about  him,  that  she 


134  MELISENDRA. 

might  not  fall ;  for  the  lady  Melisendra  was  not  used  to  that  kind 
of  riding. 

" '  Observe  now,  gallants,  how  the  horse  neighs,  and  shews  how 
proud  he  is  of  the  burden  of  his  brave  master  and  fair  mistress. 
Look,  now,  how  they  turn  their  backs,  and  leave  the  city,  and 
gallop  it  merrily  away  towards  Paris.  Peace  be  with  you,  for  a 
peerless  couple  of  true  lovers  !  may  ye  get  safe  and  sound  into 
your  own  country,  without  any  lett  or  ill  chance  in  your  journey, 
and  live  as  long  as  Nestor,  in  peace  and  quietness  among  your 
friends  and  relations.'  — '  Plainness,  boy  ! '  cried  Master  Peter, 
'none  of  your  flights,  I  beseech  you,  for  affectation  is  the  devil.' 
—  The  boy  answered  nothing,  but  going  on  :  '  Now,  sirs,'  quoth  he, 
'some  of  those  idle  people,  that  love  to  pry  into  ever)'  thing, 
happened  to  spy  Melisendra  as  she  was  making  her  escape,  and 
ran  presently  and  gave  Marsilius  notice  of  it ;  whereupon  he  straight 
commanded  to  sound  an  alarm ;  and  now  mind  what  a  din  and 
hurly-burly  there  is,  and  how  the  city  shakes  with  the  ring  of  the 
bells  backwards  in  all  the  mosques  ! '  —  '  There  you  are  out,  boy,' 
said  Don  Quixote :  '  The  Moors  have  no  bells,  they  only  use 
kettle-drums,  and  a  kind  of  shaulms  like  our  waits  or  hautboys ;  so 
that  your  ringing  of  bells  in  Sansuena  is  a  mere  absurdity,  good 
Master  Peter.' —  '  Nay,  sir,'  said  Master  Peter,  giving  over  ringing, 
'  if  you  stand  upon  these  trifles  with  us,  we  shall  never  please  you. 
Don't  be  so  severe  a  critic  :  Are  there  not  a  thousand  plays  that 
pass  with  great  success  and  applause,  though  they  have  many 
greater  absurdities,  and  nonsense  in  abundance  ?  On,  boy,  on,  let 
there  be  as  many  impertinences  as  motes  in  the  sun  ;  no  matter, 
so  I  get  the  money.1  —  'Well  said,"  answered  Don  Quixote.— 
'  And  now,  sirs,'  quoth  the  boy,  '  observe  what  a  vast  company  of 
glittering  horse  comes  pouring  out  of  the  city,  in  pursuit  of  the 
Christian  lovers  ;  what  a  dreadful  sound  of  trumpets,  and  clarions, 
and  drums,  and  kettle-drums  there  is  in  the  air.  I  fear  they  will 
overtake  them,  and  then  will  the  poor  wretches  be  dragged  along 
most  barbarously  at  the  tails  of  their  horses,  which  would  be  sad 
indeed.' 

"  Don  Quixote,  seeing  such  a  number  of  Moors,  and  hearing  such 
an  alarm,  thought  it  high  time  to  assist  the  flying  lovers  ;  and  start- 
ing up,  '  It  shall  never  he  said  while  I  live,'  cried  he  aloud,  '  that 
I  suffered  such  a  wrong  to  be  done  to  so  famous  a  knight  and  so 
daring  a  lover  as  Don  Gayferos.  Forbear,  then,  your  unjust  pur- 
suit, ye  base-born  rascals  !  Stop,  or  prepare  to  meet  my  furious 
resentment  ! '  Then  drawing  out  his  sword,  to  make  good  his 


MELISEXDRA.  135 

threats,  at  one  spring  he  gets  to  the  show,  and  with  a  violent  fury 
lays  at  the  Moorish  puppets,  cutting  and  slashing  in  a  most  terrible 
manner:  some  he  overthrows,  and  beheads  others;  maims  this, 
and  cleaves  that  in  pieces.  Among  the  rest  of  his  merciless 
strokes,  he  thundered  one  down  with  such  a  mighty  force,  that  had 
not  Master  Peter  luckily  ducked  and  squatted  down,  it  had  cer- 
tainly chopped  off  his  head  as  easily  as  one  might  cut  an  apple." 


AT  Sansuena,1  in  the  tower,  fair  Melisendra  lies, 
Her  heart  is  far  away  in  France,  and  tears  are  in  her  eyes ; 
The  twilight  shade  is  thickening  laid  on  Sansuena's  plain, 
Yet  wistfully  the  lady  her  weary  eyes  doth  strain. 

H. 

She  gazes  from  the  dungeon  strong,  forth  on  the  road  to  Paris, 
Weeping,  and  wondering  why  so  long  her  Lord  Gayferos  tarries, 
When  lo  !  a  knight  appears  in  view  —  a  knight  of  Christian  mien, 
Upon  a  milk-white  charger  he  rides  the  elms  between. 

m. 

She  from  her  window  reaches  forfh  her  hand  a  sign  to  make, 
••  O  if  you  be  a  knight  of  worth,  draw  near  for  mercy's  sake  ; 
For  mercy  and  sweet  charity,  draw  near,  Sir  Knight,  to  me, 
And  tell  me  if  ye  ride  to  France,  or  whither  bowne  ye  be. 

rv. 

"  O,  if  ye  be  a  Christian  knight,  and  if  to  France  you  go, 
I  pr'ythee  tell  Gayferos  that  you  have  seen  my  woe  ; 
That  you  have  seen  me  weeping,  here  in  the  Moorish  tower, 
While  he  is  gay  by  night  and  day,  in  hall  and  lady's  bower. 

v. 

"  Seven  summers  have  I  waited,  seven  winters  long  are  spent, 
Yet  word  of  comfort  none  he  speaks,  nor  token  hath  he  sent ; 

1  Sansuetta  is  the  ancient  name  of  /aragoza. 


136 


MELISLNDRA. 


And  if  he  is  weary  of  my  love,  and  would  have  me  wed  a  stranger 
Still  say  his  love  is  true  to  him  —  nor  time  nor  wrong  can  change 
her."  — 

VI. 

The  knight  on  stirrup  rising,  bids  her  wipe  her  tears  away,  — 

"  My  love,  no  time  for  weeping,  no  peril  save  delay  — 

Come,  boldly  spring,  and  lightly  leap — no  listening  Moor  is  neai 

us, 
And  by  dawn  of  day  we'll  be  faraway"  —  so  spake  the  Knight 

Gayferos. 

VII. 

She  hath  made  the  sign  of  the  Cross  divine,  and  an  Ave  she  hath 

said, 
And  she  dares  the  leap  both  wide  and  deep —  that  damsel  without 

dread ; 

And  he  hath  kissed  her  pale  pale  cheek,  and  lifted  her  behind, 
t  Saint  Denis  speed  the  rnilk-white  steed  —  no  Moor  their  path  shall 

find. 


LADY  ALDA'S  DREAM,  137 


LADY   ALDA'S   DREAM. 


[The  following  is  an  attempt  to  render  one  of  the  most  admired  of  all  the 

Spanish  ballads. 

En  Paris  esta  Dona  Alda,  la  esposa  de  Don  Roldan, 
Trecientas  damas  con  ella,  para  la  accompanar, 
Todas  visten  un  vestido,  todas  caiman  un  calcjar,  &c. 

In  its  whole  structure  and  strain  it  bears  a  very  remarkable  resemblance  to 
several  of  our  own  old  ballads  —  both  English  and  Scottish.] 


IN  Paris  sits  the  lady  that  shall  be  Sir  Roland's  bride, 

Three  hundred  damsels  with  her,  her  bidding  to  abide ; 

All  clothed  in  the  same  fashion,  both  the  mantle  and  the  shoon, 

All  eating  at  one  table,  within  her  hall  at  noon : 

All,  save  the  Lady  Alda,  she  is  lady  of  them  all, 

She  keeps  her  place  upon  the  dais,  and  they  serve  her  in  her  hall ; 

The  thread  of  gold  a  hundred  spin,  the  lawn  a  hundred  weave, 

And  a  hundred  play  sweet  melody  within  Alda's  bower  at  eve. 

ir. 

With  the  sound  of  their  sweet  playing,  the  lady  falls  asleep, 
And  she  dreams  a  doleful  dream,  and  her  damsels  hear  her  weep  ; 
There  is  sorrow  in  her  slumber,  and  she  waketh  with  a  cry, 
And  she  calleth  for  her  damsels,  and  swiftly  they  come  nigh. 
"  Now,  what  is  it,  Lady  Alda  "  (you  may  hear  the  words  they  say), 
"Bringeth  sorrow  to  thy  pillow,  and  chaseth  sleep  away?"  — 
"  O,  my  maidens  ! "  quoth  the  lady,  "  my  heart  it  is  full  sore  ! 
I  have  dreamt  a  dream  of  evil,  and  can  slumber  never  more. 

in. 

"  For  I  was  upon  a  mountain,  in  a  bare  and  desert  place, 
And  I  saw  a  mighty  eagle,  and  a  falcon  he  did  chase  ; 
And  to  me  the  falcon  came,  and  I  hid  it  in  my  breast, 
But  the  mighty  bird,  pursuing,  came  and  rent  away  my  vest; 


138  LADY  ALDA'S  DREAM. 

And  he  scattered  all  the  feathers,  and  blood  was  on  his  beak, 
And  ever,  as  he  tore  and  tore,  I  heard  the  falcon  shriek  :  — 
Now  read  my  vision,  damsels,  now  read  my  dream  to  me, 
For  my  heart  may  well  be  heavy  that  doleful  sight  to  see."  - 

IV. 

Out  spake  the  foremost  damsel  was  in  her  chamber  there  — 
(You  may  hear  the  words  she  says),  "  Oh  !  my  lady's  dream  is 

fair  — 

The  mountain  is  Saint  Denis'  choir ;  and  thou  the  falcon  art, 
And  the  eagle  strong  that  teareth  the  garment  from  thy  heart, 
And  scattereth  the  feathers,  he  is  the  Paladin  — 
That,  when  again  he  comes  from   Spain,  must   sleep  thy  bower 

within ;  — 
Then  be  blythe  of  cheer,  my  lady,  for  the  dream  thou  must  not 

grieve, 
It  means  but  that  thy  bridegroom  shall  come  to  thee  at  eve."  — 

v. 

"If  thou  hast  read  my  vision,  and  read  it  cunningly  "  - 

Thus  said  the  Lady  Alda,  "  thou  shall  not  lack  thy  fee."  • 

But  woe  is  me  for  Alda !  there  was  heard,  at  morning  hour, 

A  voice  of  lamentation  within  that  lady's  bower ; 

For  there  had  come  to  Paris  a  messenger  by  night, 

And  his  horse  it  was  a-weary,  and  his  visage  it  was  white  ; 

And  there's  weeping  in  the  chamber,  and  there's  silence  in  the 

hall, 
For  Sir  Roland  has  been  slaughtered  in  the  chase  of  Roncesval. 


THE  ADMIRAL    GUARINOS.  139 


THE   ADMIRAL   GUARINOS. 


[This  is  a  translation  of  the  ballad  which  Don  Quixote  and  Sancho  Pan/.a, 
when  at  Toboso,  overheard  a  peasant  singing,  as  he  was  going  to  his  work  at 
daybreak.  —  "  Iba  cantando,"  says  Cervantes,  "  aquel  romance  que  dice, 

Mala  la  vistes  Franceses  la  cac.a  de  Roncesvalles."] 


THE  day  of  Roncesvalles  was  a  dismal  day  for  you, 

Ye  men  of  France,  for  there  the  lance  of  King  Charles  was  broke 

in  two. 

Ye  well  may  curse  that  rueful  field,  for  many  a  noble  peer, 
In  fray  or  fight,  the  dust  did  bite,  beneath  Bernardo's  spear. 

n. 

There  captured  was  Guarinos,  King  Charles's  admiral ; 

Seven  Moorish  kings  surrounded  him,  and  seized  him  for  their 

thrall  • 
Seven  times,  when  all  the  chace  was  o'er,  for  Guarinos  lots  they 

cast; 
Seven  times  Marlotes  won  the  throw,  and  the  knight  was  his  at 

last. 

in. 

Much  joy  had  then  Marlotes,  and  his  captive  much  did  prize, 
Above  all  the  wealth  of  Araby,  he  was  precious  in  his  eyes. 
Within  his  tent  at  evening  he  made  the  best  of  cheer, 
And  thus,  the  banquet  done,  he  spake  unto  his  prisoner. 

IV. 

"  Now,  for  the  sake  of  Alia,  Lord  Admiral  Guarinos, 
Be  thou  a  Moslem,  and  much  love  shall  ever  rest  between  us. 
Two  daughters  have  I  —  all  the  day  thy  handmaid  one  shall  be, 
The  other  (and  the  fairer  far)  by  night  shall  cherish  thee. 


140  THE  ADMIRAL    GUARINOS. 

V. 

"  The  one  shall  be  thy  waiting- maid,  thy  weary  feet  to  lave, 
To  scatter  perfumes  on  thy  head,  and  fetch  thee  garments  brave ; 
The  other  —  she  the  pretty  —  shall  deck  her  bridal-bower, 
And  my  field  and  my  city  they  both  shall  be  her  dower. 

VI. 

"  If  more  thou  wishest,  more  I'll  give  —  speak  boldly  what  thy 

thought  is."  — 

Thus  earnestly  and  kindly  to  Guarinos  said  Marlotes ;  — 
But  not  a  moment  did  he  take  to  ponder  or  to  pause, 
Thus  clear  and  quick  the  answer  of  the  Christian  Captain  was  : 

VII. 

"  Now,  God  forbid  !  Marlotes,  and  Mary,  his  dear  mother, 
That  I  should  leave  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  bind  me  to  another. 
For  women  —  I've  one  wife  in  France,  and  I'll  wed  no  more  in 

Spain ; 
I  change  not  faith,  I  break  not  vow,  for  courtesy  or  gain."  — • 

VIII. 

Wroth  waxed  King  Marlotes,  when  thus  he  heard  him  say, 
And  all  for  ire  commanded,  he  should  be  led  away ; 
Away  unto  the  dungeon-keep,  beneath  its  vault  to  lie, 
With  fetters  bound  in  darkness  deep,  far  off  from  sun  and  sky. 

IX. 

With  iron  bands  they  bound  his  hands.     That  sore  unworthy  plight 
Might  well  express  his  helplessness,  doomed  never  more  to  fight. 
Again,  from  cincture  down  to  knee,  long  bolts  of  iron  he  bore, 
Which  signified  the  knight  should  ride  on  charger  never  more. 

x. 

Three  times  alone,  in  all  the  year,  it  is  the  captive's  doom, 
To  see  God's  daylight  bright  and  clear,  instead  of  dungeon-gloom  ; 
Three  times  alone  they  bring  him  out,  like  Samson  long  ago, 
Before  the  Moorish  rabble-rout  to  be  a  sport  and  show. 


THE  ADMIKAL    GUARINOS.  141 

XI. 

On  three  high  feasts  they  bring  him  forth,  a  spectacle  to  be, 

The  feast  of  Pasque,  and  the  great  day  of  the  Nativity, 

And  on  that  morn,  more  solemn  yet,  when  the  maidens  strip  the 

bowers, 
And  gladden  mosque  and  minaret  with  the  first  fruits  of  the  flowers. 

XII. 

I  )ays  come  and  go  of  gloom  and  show.    Seven  years  are  come  and 

gone, 

And  now  doth  fall  the  festival  of  the  holy  Baptist  John ; 
Christian  and  Moslem  tilts  and  jousts,  to  give  it  homage  due ; 
And  rushes  on  the  paths  to  spread  they  force  the  sulky  Jew. 

XIII. 

Marlotes,  in  his  joy  and  pride,  a  target  high  doth  rear, 

Below  the  Moorish  knights  must  ride  and  pierce  it  with  the  spear ; 

But  'tis  so  high  up  in  the  sky,  albeit  much  they  strain, 

No  Moorish  lance  so  far  may  fly,  Marlotes'  prize  to  gain. 

XIV. 

Wroth  waxed  King  Marlotes,  when  he  beheld  them  fail, 
The  whisker  trembled  on  his  lip,  and  his  cheek  for  ire  was  pale ; 
And  heralds  proclamation  made,  with  trumpets,  through  the  town, — 
"  Nor  child  shall  suck,  nor  man  shall  eat,  till  the  mark  be  tumbled 
down."  — 

xv. 

The  cry  of  proclamation,  and  the  trumpet's  haughty  sound, 

Did  send  an  echo  to  the  vault  where  the  admiral  was  bound. 

"  Now,  help  me  God  ! "  the  captive  cries,  "  what  means  this  din 

so  loud  ? 
O,  Queen  of  Heaven  !  be  vengeance  given  on  these  thy  haters 

proud  ! 

XVI. 

"  O  !  is  it  that  some  Pagan  gay  doth  Marlotes'  daughter  wed, 
And  that  they  bear  my  scorned  fair  in  triumph  to  his  bed  ? 
Or  is  it  that  the  day  is  come —  one  of  the  hateful  three, 
When  they,  with  trumpet,  fife,  and  drum,  make  heathen  game  of 
me?"  — 


142  THE  ADMIRAL    GUARINOS. 

XVII. 

These  words  the  jailer  chanced  to  hear,  and  thus  to  him  he  said, 
"  These  tabors,  Lord,  and  trumpets  clear,  conduct  no  bride  to  bed ; 
Nor  has  the  feast  come  round  again,  when  he  that  has  the  right, 
Commands  thee  forth,  thou  foe  of  Spain,  to  glad  the  people's  sight. 


XVIII. 

"  This  is  the  joyful  morning  of  John  the  Baptist's  day, 
When  Moor  and  Christian  feasts  at  home,  each  in  his  nation's  way  , 
But  now  our  King  commands  that  none  his  banquet  shall  begin, 
Until  some  knight,  by  strength  or  sleight,  the  spearman's  prize  do 
win."  — 

XIX. 

Then  out  and  spake  Guarinos,  "  O  !  soon  each  man  should  feed, 
Were  I  but  mounted  once  again  on  my  own  gallant  steed. 
O  !  were  I  mounted  as  of  old,  and  harnessed  cap-a-pee, 
Full  soon  Marlotes'  prize  I'd  hold,  whate'er  its  price  may  be. 


xx. 

"  Give  me  my  horse,  mine  old  grey  horse,  so  be  he  is  not  dead, 
All  gallantly  caparisoned,  with  plate  on  breast  and  head, 
And  give  the  lance  I  brought  from  France,  and  if  I  win  it  not, 
My  life  shall  be  the  forfeiture  —  I'll  yield  it  on  the  spot."  — 


XXI. 

The  jailer  wondered  at  his  words.     Thus  to  the  knight  said  he, 
"  Seven  weary  years  of  chains  and  gloom  have  little  humbled  thee  ; 
There's  never  a  man  in  Spain,  I  trow,  the  like  so  well  might  bear ; 
An'  if  thou  wilt,  I  with  thy  vow  will  to  the  King  repair."  — 


XXII. 

The  jailer  put  his  mantle  on,  and  came  unto  the  King, 
He  found  him  sitting  on  the  throne,  within  his  listed  ring ; 
Close  to  his  ear  he  planted  him,  and  the  story  did  begin, 
How  bold  Guarinos  vaunted  him  the  spearman's  prize  to  win. 


THE  ADMIRAL    GUARINOS.  143 

• 

xxm. 

That,  were  he  mounted  but  once  more  on  his  own  gallant  grey, 
And  armed  with  the  lance  he  bore  on  the  Roncesvalles'  day, 
What  never  Moorish  knight  could  pierce,  he  would  pierce  it  at  a 

blow, 
Or  give  with  joy  his  life-blood  fierce,  at  Marlotes'  feet  to  flow. 


XXIV. 

Much  marvelling,  then  said  the  King,  "  Bring  Sir  Guarinos  forth, 
And  in  the  Grange  go  seek  ye  for  his  grey  steed  of  worth ; 
His  arms  are  rusty  on  the  wall  —  seven  years  have  gone,  I  judge, 
Since  that  strong  horse  has  bent  his  force  to  be  a  carrion  drudge. 


XXV. 

"  Now  this  will  be  a  sight  indeed,  to  see  the  enfeebled  lord 
Essay  to  mount  that  ragged  steed,  and  draw  that  rusty  sword ; 
And  for  the  vaunting  of  his  phrase  he  well  deserves  to  die, 
So,  jailer,  gird  his  harness  on,  and  bring  your  champion  nigh."  — 


XXVI. 

They  have  girded  on  his  shirt  of  mail,  his  cuisses  well  they've 

clasped, 
And  they've  barred  the  helm  on  his  visage  pale,  and  his  hand  the 

lance  hath  grasped, 
And  they  have  caught  the  old  grey  horse,  the  horse  he  loved  of 

yore, 
And  he  stands  pawing  at  the  gate  —  caparisoned  once  more. 

XXVII. 

When  the  knight  came  out  the  Moors  did  shout,  and  loudly  laughed 

the  King, 

For  the  horse  he  pranced  and  capered,  and  furiously  did  fling ; 
But  Guarinos  whispered  in  his  ear,  and  looked  into  his  face, 
Then  stood  the  old  charger  like  a  lamb,  with  a  calm  and  gentle 

grace. 


144  THE  ADMIRAL    GUARINOS. 

* 

XXVIII. 

Oh  !  lightly  did  Guarinos  vault  into  the  saddle-tree, 

And  slowly  riding  down  made  halt  before  Marlotes'  knee ; 

Again  the  heathen  laughed  aloud  —  "All  hail,  sir  knight,"  quoth 

he, 
"  Now  do  thy  best,  thou  champion  proud.     Thy  blood  I  look  to 

see." — 

XXIX. 

With  that  Guarinos,  lance  in  rest,  against  the  scoffer  rode, 
Pierced  at  one  thrust  his  envious  breast,  and  down  his  turban 

trode. 

Now  ride,  now  ride,  Guarinos  —  nor  lance  nor  rowel  spare  — 
Slay,  slay,  and  gallop  for  thy  life.  —  The  land  of  France  lies  there  : 


THE  LADY  OF  THE    TREE.  145 


THE   LADY   OF   THE   TREE. 


[The  following  is  one  of  the  few  old  Spanish  ballads  in  which  mention  is 
made  of  the  Fairies.  The  sleeping  child's  being  taken  away  from  the  arms  of 
the  nurse,  is  a  circumstance  quite  in  accordance  with  our  own  tales  of  Fairy- 
land; but  the  seven  years'  enchantment  in  the  tree  reminds  us  more  of  those 
oriental  fictions,  the  influence  of  which  has  stamped  so  many  indelible  traces 
on  all  the  imaginative  literature  of  Spain.] 


THE  knight  had  hunted  long,  and  twilight  closed  the  day, 
His  hounds  were  weak  and  weary,  his  hawk  had  flown  away. 
He  stopped  beneath  an  oak,  an  old  and  mighty  tree, 
Then  out  the  maiden  spoke,  and  a  comely  maid  was  she. 


ir. 

The  knight  'gan  lift  his  eye,  the  shady  boughs  between ; 
She  had  her  seat  on  high,  among  the  oak- leaves  green ; 
Her  golden  curls  lay  clustering  above  her  breast  of  snow ; 
But  when  the  breeze  was  westering,  upon  it  they  did  flow. 


m. 

"  O,  fear  not,  gentle  knight ;  there  is  no  cause  for  fear ; 
I  am  a  good  king's  daughter,  long  years  enchanted  here ; 
Seven  cruel  fairies  found  me  —  they  charmed  a  sleeping  child  ; 
Seven  years  their  charm  hath  bound  me,  a  damsel  undefiled. 

IV. 

"  Seven  weary  years  are  gone  since  over  me  charms  they  threw 
I  have  dwelt  here  alone  —  I  have  seen  none  but  you. 
My  seven  sad  years  are  spent ;  —  for  Christ  that  died  on  rood, 
Thou  noble  Knight,  consent,  and  lead  me  from  the  wood  ! 


146  THE   LADY  OF   THE    TREE. 

V. 

"  O  !  bring  me  forth  again  from  out  this  darksome  place  ! 
I  dare  not  sleep  for  terror  of  the  unholy  race. 
(),  take  me,  gentle  sir  !  I'll  be  a  wife  to  thee  — 
I'll  be  thy  lowly  leman,  if  wife  I  may  not  be." — • 


VI. 


"  Till  dawns  the  morning,  wait,  thou  lovely  lady,  here ; 
I'll  ask  my  mother  straight,  for  her  reproof  I  fear."  - 
"  O,  ill  beseems  thee,  knight  !  "  said  she,  that  maid  forlorn, 
"  The  blood  of  kings  to  slight  —  a  lady's  tears  to  scorn."  — 


VII. 


He  came  when  morning  broke,  to  fetch  the  maid  away, 
But  could  not  find  the  oak  wherein  she  made  her  stay ; 
All  through  the  wilderness  he  sought  in  bower  and  tree  - 
Fair  lordlings,  will  ye  guess  what  weary  heart  had  he. 


VIII. 


There  came  a  sound  of  voices  from  up  the  forest  glen, 
The  King  had  come  to  find  her  with  all  his  gentlemen ; 
They  rode  in  mickle  glee  —  a  joyous  cavalcade  — 
Fair  in  the  midst  rode  she,  but  never  word  she  said. 


IX. 


Though  on  the  green  he  knelt,  no  look  on  him  she  cast  — 
His  hand  was  on  the  hilt  ere  all  the  train  were  past. 
"  O  shame  to  knightly  blood  !  O  scorn  to  chivalry  ! 
I'll  die  within  the  wood  !     No  eye  my  death  shall  see  !" 


THE  FALSE    QUEEN.  147 


THE   FALSE   QUEEN. 


[The  following  is  a  version  of  the  ballad, 

A  tan  alta  va  la  Luna 
Como  el  sol  en  media  dia.  — 

It  is  in  the  Cancionero  of  Antwerp.  Mr.  Depping,  the  German  collector,  sup- 
poses the  "  German  Lord  "  (Conde  Aleman)  to  be  the  famous  Baldwin,  nephew 
to  the  Marquis  of  Mantua  —  now  perhaps  best  known  to  the  English  reader 
from  the  many  allusions  to  his  tragical  death  in  Don  Quixote.] 

UP  on  high  the  moon  was  riding, 

High  as  the  sun  in  blaze  of  day, 
When,  within  her  chamber  hiding, 

With  the  Queen  the  Conde"  lay. 

No  one  knows  it,  knight  or  lady, 

In  the  good  King's  court  that  dwelleth, 

Save  but  one,  the  pale  Infanta ; 
She  to  none  her  sorrow  telleth. 

Out  and  spake  the  blushing  mother, 
To  the  maiden  wan  and  weeping, 

"  Daughter,  thou  my  shame  wilt  cover ; 
Lo  !  my  life  is  in  thy  keeping  ! 

"  Child,  my  German  lord  hath  gold,  — 
Gold  and  pearl  he'll  give  to  thee ; 

Gowns  and  mantles  manifold, 
Blazoned  with  embroidery."  — 

"  May  an  evil  fire  consume  them  !  "  — 

Out  and  spake  the  damosel ; 
"  There's  a  false  man  in  thy  chamber, 

While  my  father  loves  thee  well."  — 


148  THE   AVENGING    CHILDE. 


THE   AVENGING   CHILDE. 


[The  ballad  of  the  Infante  Vengador  is  proved  to  be  of  very  high  antiquity 
by  certain  particulars  in  its  language.  The  circumstance  of  the  tiled  floor, 
and  some  others  of  the  same  sort,  will  not  escape  the  notice  of  the  antiquarian 
reader.] 


HURRAH  !  hurrah  !  avoid  the  way  of  the  Avenging  Childe  ; 
His  horse  is  swift  as  sands  that  drift  —  an  Arab  of  the  wild  ; 
His  gown  is  twisted  round  his  arm  —  a  ghastly  cheek  he  wears ; 
And  in  his  hand,  for  deadly  harm,  a  hunting-knife  he  bears. 

H. 

Avoid  that  knife  in  battle-strife,  that  weapon  short  and  thin  ; 
The  dragon's  gore  hath  bathed  it  o'er,  seven  times  'twas  steeped 

therein ; 
Seven   times   the  smith  hath  proved  its  pith,   it  cuts  a  coulter 

through  — 
In  France  the  blade  was  fashioned,  from  Spain  the  shaft  it  drew. 

in. 

He  sharpens  it,  as  he  doth  ride,  upon  his  saddle  bow, 
He  sharpens  it  on  either  side,  he  makes  the  steel  to  glow. 
He  rides  to  find  Don  Quadros,  that  false  and  faitour  knight, 
His  glance  of  ire  is  hot  as  fire,  although  his  cheek  be  white. 

rv. 

He  found  him  standing  by  the  King  within  the  judgment-hall ; 
He  rushed  within  the  Barons'  ring  —  he  stood  before  them  all. 
Seven  times  he  gazed  and  pondered,  if  he  the  deed  should  do, 
Eight  times  distraught  he  looked  and  thought,  then  out  his  dagger 
flew. 

v. 

He  stabbed  therewith  at  Quadros  —  the  King  did  step  between, 
It  pierced  his  royal  garment  of  purple  wove  with  green ; 


THE  AVENGING    CHILDE.  149 

He  fell  beneath  the  canopy,  upon  the  tiles  he  lay. 
"  Thou  traitor  keen,  what  dost  thou  mean  ?  thy  King  why  wouldst 
thou  slay?"  — 


VI. 


"  Now,  pardon,  pardon,"  cried  the  Childe,  "  I  stabbed  not,  King, 

at  thee, 

But  him,  that  caitiff,  blood-defiled,  who  stood  beside  thy  knee ; 
Eight  brothers  were  we  —  in  the  land  might  none  more  loving  be  — 
They  all  are  slain  by  Quadros'  hand  —  they  are  all  dead  but  me. 


VII. 


"  Good  King,  I  fain  would  wash  the  stain  —  for  vengeance  is  my 

cry; 

This  murderer  with  sword  and  spear  to  battle  I  defy."  — 
But  all  took  part  with  Quadros,  except  one  lovely  May, 
Except  the  King's  fair  daughter,  none  word  for  him  would  say. 


VIII. 

She  took  their  hands,  she  led  them  forth  into  the  court  below ; 
She  bade  the  ring  be  guarded ;  she  bade  the  trumpet  blow ; 
From  lofty  place,  for  that  stern  race,  the  signal  she  did  throw  — 
"With  truth  and  right  the  Lord  will  fight — together  let  them  go."  — 

IX. 

The  one  is  up,  the  other  down,  the  hunter's  knife  is  bare  ; 

It  cuts  the  lace  beneath  the  face,  it  cuts  through  beard  and  hair ; 

Right  soon  that  knife  hath  quenched  his  life  —  the  head  is  sundered 

sheer ; 
Then  gladsome  smiled  the  Avenging  Childe,  and  fixed  it  on  his 

spear. 

x. 

But  when  the  King  beholds  him  bring  that  token  of  his  truth, 
Nor  scorn  nor  wrath  his  bosom  hath  —  "  Kneel  down,  thou  noble 

youth ; 
Kneel  down,  kneel  down,  and  kiss  my  crown,  I  am  no  more  thy 

foe  ; 
My  daughter  now  may  pay  the  vow  she  plighted  long  ago." 


150  COUNT  ARNALDOS. 


COUNT  ARNALDOS. 


[This  Ballad  is  in  the  Cancionero  of  Antwerp,  1555. 
I  should  be  inclined  to  suppose  that 

more  is  meant  than  meets  the  ear, 
that  some  religious  allegory  is  intended  to  be  shadowed  forth. 1 

I. 

WHO  had  ever  such  adventure, 
Holy  priest,  or  virgin  nun, 

As  befell  the  Count  Arnaldos 
At  the  rising  of  the  sun? 

ii. 

On  his  wrist  the  hawk  was  hooded, 
Forth  with  horn  and  hound  went  he, 

When  he  saw  a  stately  galley 
Sailing  on  the  silent  sea. 

in. 

Sail  of  satin,  mast  of  cedar, 

Burnished  poop  of  beaten  gold  — 

Many  a  morn  you'll  hood  your  falcon 
Ere  you  such  a  bark  behold. 

IV. 

Sails  of  satin,  masts  of  cedar, 
Golden  poops  may  come  again, 

But  mortal  ear  no  more  shall  listen 
To  yon  grey-haired  sailor's  strain. 


Heart  may  beat,  and  eye  may  glisten, 
Faith  is  strong,  and  Hope  is  free, 


COUXT  ARNALDOS.  151 

But  mortal  ear  no  more  shall  listen 
To  the  song  that  rules  the  sea. 

VI. 

When  the  grey- haired  sailor  chanted, 

Every  wind  was  hushed  to  sleep  — 
Like  a  virgin's  bosom  panted 

All  the  wide  reposing  deep. 

VII. 

Bright  in  beauty  rose  the  star-fish 

From  her  green  cave  down  below, 
Right  above  the  eagle  poised  him  — 

Holy  music  charmed  them  so. 

VIII. 

"  Stately  galley  !  glorious  galley  \ 

God  hath  poured  his  grace  on  thee  ! 
Thou  alone  mayst  scorn  the  perils 

Of  the  dread  devouring  sea  ! 

rx. 

"  False  Almeria's  reefs  and  shallows, 

Black  Gibraltar's  giant  rocks, 
Sound  and  sand-bank,  gulf  and  whirlpool, 

All  —  my  glorious  galley  mocks  !  "  — 

x. 

"  For  the  sake  of  God,  our  maker  !  "  — 

(Count  Arnaldos'  cry  was  strong), 
"  Old  man,  let  me  be  partaker 

In  the  secret  of  thy  song  !  "  — 

XI. 

"  Count  Arnaldos  !  Count  Arnaldos  ! 

Hearts  I  read,  and  thoughts  I  know  -  ' 
Wouldst  thou  learn  the  ocean  serrct, 

In  our  galley  thou  must  go," 


152  SOA'G  FOR    THE  MORNING    OF  ST.   JOHN. 


SONG    FOR  THE   MORNING   OF   THE   DAY  OF 
ST.   JOHN   THE   BAPTIST. 


THE  Marquis  du  Palmy  said,  many  years  ago,  in  his  ingenious 
Essay,  "  Sur  la  vie  prive"e  des  Francois,"  —  "  Les  feux  de  la  Saint 
Jean  fonde"s  sur  ce  qu'on  lit  dans  le  Nouveau  Testament,1  que  les 
nations  se  rejouiront  &  la  Naissance  de  Saint  Jean,  sont  presque 
dteintes  par  tout." 

Both  in  the  northern  and  the  southern  parts  of  Europe,  there 
prevailed  of  old  a  superstitious  custom,  of  which  the  traces  prob- 
ably linger  to  this  day,  in  many  simple  districts.  The  young  wo- 
men rose  on  this  sacred  morning  ere  the  sun  was  up,  and  collected 
garlands  of  flowers,  which  they  bound  upon  their  heads ;  and  ac- 
cording as  the  dew  remained  upon  these  a  longer  or  a  shorter  time, 
they  augured  more  or  less  favourably  of  the  future  constancy  of 
their  lovers. 

That  the  day  of  the  Baptist  was  a  great  festival  among  the  Span- 
ish Moors,  the  reader  may  gather  from  many  passages  in  the  fore- 
going Ballads,  particularly  that  of  THE  ADMIRAL  GUARINOS.  There 
are  two  in  the  Cancionero  which  show,  that  some  part  at  least  of 
the  amorous  superstitions  of  the  day  were  also  shared  by  them. 
The  one  of  them  begins, 

La  mafiana  de  San  Juan,  salen  a  coger  guirnaldas, 

Zara  muger  del  Rey  Chico,  con  sus  mas  queridas  damas,  £c. 

The  other, 

La  mafiana  de  Sant  Juan,  a  punta  que  alboreava, 
Gran  fiesta  hazen  los  Moros  por  la  vega  de  Granada, 
Rebolviendo  sus  cavallos,  y  jugando  con  las  lanzas 
Ricos  pendones  en  ellas,  labrados  por  las  amadas.  — 

******** 

El  moro  que  amores  tiene,  senates  dellos  monstrava, 
Y  el  que  amiga  no  tenia,  alii  no  fscaramu(ava,  Gfc. 

1  Thou  shall  have  joy  and  gladness,  and  many  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth. — 
St.  Luke,  chap.  i.  ver.  14. 


SOA'G  FOR    THE  MORNING    OF  ST.   JOHN.  153 

The  following  song  is  one  that  was  used  to  be  sung  by  the  Span- 
ish country-girls,  as  they  went  out  to  gather  their  dew  and  their 
flowers,  on  St.  John's  day  in  the  morning.  There  are  many  of  the 
same  kind  ;  such  as  that  beginning 

Este  dia  de  San  Juan 

Ay  de  mi ! 

Que  no  solia  ser  ansi !  &c. 

And  that  other, 

Yo  no  me  porne  guirnalda 
La  mafiana  de  San  Juan 
Pues  mis  amores  se  van,  &c. 


COME  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  'tis  the  day  of  good  St.  John, 
It  is  the  Baptist's  morning  that  breaks  the  hills  upon, 
And  let  us  all  go  forth  together,  while  the  blessed  day  is  new, 
To  dress  with  flowers  the  snow-white  wether,  ere  the  sun  has  dried 
the  dew. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  &c. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  the  woodlands  all  are  green, 
And  the  little  birds  are  singing  the  opening  leaves  between, 
And  let  us  all  go  forth  together,  to, gather  trefoil  by  the  stream, 
Ere  the  face  of  Guadalquiver  glows   beneath   the  strengthening 
beam. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  &c. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  and  slumber  not  away 
The  blessed,  blessed  morning  of  the  holy  Baptist's  day ; 
There's  trefoil  on  the  meadow,  and  lilies  on  the  lee, 
And  hawthorn  blossoms  on  the  bush,  which  you  must  pluck  with 
me. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  &c. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  the  air  is  calm  and  cool, 
And  the  violet  blue  far  down  ye'll  view,  reflected  in  the  pool ; 
The  violets  and  the  roses,  and  the  jasmines  all  together, 
We'll  bind  in  garlands   on   the  brow  of  the  strong  and  lovely 
wether. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  &c. 


154 


SOA'G   FOR    THE  MORNING    OF  ST.   JOHN. 


Come  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  we'll  gather  myrtle  boughs, 

And  we  all  shall  learn  from  the  dews  of  the  fern,  if  our  lads  will 
keep  their  vows. 

If  the  wether  be  still,1  as  we  dance  on  the  hill,  and  the  dew  hangs 
sweet  on  the  flowers, 

Then  we'll  kiss  off  the  dew,  for  our  lovers  are  true,  and  the  Bap- 
tist's blessing  is  ours. 

Come  forth,  come  forth,  my  maidens,  'tis  the  day  of  good    St. 

John, 

It  is  the  Baptist's  morning  that  breaks  the  hills  upon  ; 
And  let  us  all  go  forth  together,  while  the  blessed  day  is  new. 
To  dress  with  flowers  the  snow-white  wether,  ere  the  sun  has  dried 

the  dew. 

1 "  They  enclose  the  wether  in  a  hut  of  heath,"  says  Depping, "  and  if  he  re- 
mains quiet  while  the  girl  sings,  all  is  well;  hut  if  he  puts  his  horns  through 
the  frail  wall  or  door,  then  the  lover  is  false-hearted." 


JULIANA.  155 


JULIANA. 


[The  following  Ballad  is  inserted  in  this  place  on  account  of  an  allusion  it 
contains  to  the  ancient  custom  which  forms  the  subject  of  the  preceding  one. 

It  seems  to  represent  the  frenzy  of  a  Spanish  knight,  who  has  gone  mad,  in 
consequence  of  his  mistress  having  been  carried  off  in  the  course  of  a  Moorish 
foray. 

Arriba!  canes,  arriba!  que  rabia  mala  os  mate, 

En  jueves  matays  el  puerco,  y  en  viemes  comeys  la  came,  &c.] 


"  OFF  !  off !  ye  hounds  !  —  in  madness  an  ill  death  be  your  doom  ! 
The  boar  ye  killed  on  Thursday  on  Friday  ye  consume  ! 
Aye  me  !  and  it  is  now  seven  years  I  in  this  valley  go  ; 
Barefoot  I  wander,  and  the  blood  from  out  my  nails  doth  flow. 


ii. 

"  I  eat  the  raw  flesh  of  the  boar,  J  drink  his  red  blood  here, 
Seeking,  with  heavy  heart  and  sore,  my  Princess  and  my  dear. 
'Twas  on  the  Baptist's  morning  the  Moors  my  Princess  found, 
While  she  was  gathering  roses  upon  her  father's  ground."  — 


m. 

Fair  Juliana  heard  his  voice  where  by  the  Moor  she  lay, 
Even  in  the  Moor's  encircling  arms  she  heard  what  he  did  say 
The  lady  listened,  and  she  wept  within  that  guarded  place, 
While  the  Moor  Lord  beside  her  slept  the  tears  fell  on  his  face. 


156  THE   SONG    Of  THE    GALLEY. 


THE   SONG   OF   THE   GALLEY. 


[This  is  from  a  song  in  the  Cancionero  of  Valencia,  1511. 

Galeristas  de  Espann 
Parad  los  remos,  &c.] 


"  YE  mariners  of  Spain, 
Bend  strongly  on  your  oars, 
And  bring  my  love  again, 
For  he  lies  among  the  Moors. 

n. 

"  Ye  galleys  fairly  built, 
Like  castles  on  the  sea, 
O  great  will  be  your  guilt, 
If  ye  bring  him  not  to  me. — 

HI. 

"  The  wind  is  blowing  strong, 
The  breeze  will  aid  your  oars ; 
O  swiftly  fly  along, 
For  he  lies  among  the  Moors. 

IV. 

"  The  sweet  breeze  of  the  sea 
Cools  every  cheek  but  mine  ; 
Hot  is  its  breath  to  me, 
As  I  gaze  upon  the  brine. 

v. 

"  Lift  up,  lift  up  your  sail, 
And  bend  upon  your  oars  ; 
O  lose  not  the  fair  gale, 
For  he  lies  among  the  Moors. 


THE  SONG    OF  THE    GALLEY. 


157 


VI. 


"  It  is  a  narrow  strait, 
I  see  the  blue  hills  over ; 
Your  coming  I'll  await, 
And  thank  you  for  my  lover. 


VII. 


"  To  Mary  I  will  pray, 

While  ye  bend  upon  your  oars ; 

Twill  be  a  blessed  day, 

If  ye  fetch  him  from  the  Moors." 


158  THE    WANDERING  KNIGHT'S  SONG. 


THE   WANDERING   KNIGHT'S   SONG. 


[In  the  Cancionero  of  Antwerp,  1555. 

Mis  arreos  son  las  armas 
Mi  descanso  el  pelear.] 


"  MY  ornaments  are  arms, 

My  pastime  is  in  war, 
My  bed  is  cold  upon  the  wold, 
My  lamp  yon  star  : 

H. 

"  My  journeyings  are  long, 

My  slumbers  short  and  broken  ; 
From  hill  to  hill  I  wander  still, 
Kissing  thy  token. 

in. 

"  I  ride  from  land  to  lane*, 

I  sail  from  sea  to  sea ; 
Some  day  more  kind  I  fate  may  find, 
Some  night  kiss  thee." 


MINGUILLO.  159 


MINGUILLO. 


[From  the  collection  of  Juan  cle  Linares,  entitled  Flor  de  Enamorados. 

Plies  por  besarte  Minguijlo 

Me  rine  mi  madre  a  mi. 
Vuelveme  presto,  carillo, 

Aquel  beso  que  le  di,  &c.] 

I. 

SINCE  fcr  kissing  thee,  Minguillo, 
My  mother  scolds  me  all  the  day, 

Let  me  have  it  quickly,  darling ; 
Give  me  back  my  kiss,  I  pray. 

u. 

If  we  have  done  aught  amiss, 

Let's  undo  it  while  we  may, 
Quickly  give  me  back  the  kiss, 

That  she  may  have  nought  to  say. 

in'. 

Do  —  she  keeps  so  great  a  pother, 
Chides  so  sharply,  looks  so  grave ; 

Do,  my  love,  to  please  my  mother, 
Give  me  back  the  kiss  I  gave. 

IV. 

Out  upon  you,  false  Minguillo  ! 

One  you  give,  but  two  you  take ; 
Give  me  back  the  two,  my  darling, 

Give  them,  for  my  mother's  sake  I 


160  SEKEA'ADK 


SERENADE. 


[From  the  Romancero  General  of  1604. 
Mientras  duerme  mi  nina,  &c.j 


WHILE  my  lady  sleepeth, 

The  dark  blue  heaven  is  bright, 
Soft  the  moonbeam  creepeth 

Round  her  bower  all  night. 
Thou  gentle,  gentle  breeze, 

While  my  lady  slumbers, 
Waft  lightly  through  the  trees 

Echoes  of  my  numbers, 
Her  dreaming  ear  to  please. 

n. 
Should  ye,  breathing  numbers 

That  for  her  I  weave, 
Should  ye  break  her  slumbers, 

All  my  soul  would  grieve. 
Rise  on  the  gentle  breeze, 
And  gain  her  lattice'  height 

O'er  yon  poplar  trees, 
But  be  your  echoes  light 

As  hum  of  distant  bees. 

in. 
All  the  stars  are  glowing 

In  the  gorgeous  sky, 
In  the  stream  scarce  flowing 

Mimic  lustres  lie  :  — 
Blow,  gentle,  gentle  breeze, 

But  bring  no  cloud  to  hide 
Their  dear  resplendencies ; 

Nor  chase  from  Zara's  side 
Dreams  bright  and  pure  as  these. 


MINGUELA'S   CHIDING. 


MINGUELA'S   CHIDING. 


[From  the  Romancero  General  of  1604. 

Rino  con  Juanilla 

Su  hermana  M  inguela 

Palabras  le  dice 

Que  mucho  le  duelan,  &c.J 

I. 

HER  sister  Minguela 

Thus  chid  Juanilla, 
The  words  that  she  said 

Brought  no  peace  to  her  pillow. 

ii. 

"  Heretofore  you  went  gadding 

As  gay  as  the  rest, 
Your  new  mantle  clad  in, 

And  fine  crimson  vest. 

in. 

"  But  now  you  sit  moping, 
You  look  and  you  stare, 

Sighing  over  your  needle, 
As  if  no  one  was  there. 

rv. 

"  When  beside  you  I'm  lying, 

I  cannot  get  sleeping ; 
When  you  give  over  signing, 

I'm  sure  that  you're  weeping. 

v. 

"  When  one  loves,  I've  been  told, 
It  is  sighing  that  shows  it ;  — 


162  MINGUELA'S   CHIDING. 

How  our  mother  will  scold 
At  us  both,  if  she  knows  it ! 

VI. 

"  She  will  close  all  the  windows, 
And  bolt  every  door ; 

When  the  fiddles  are  playing, 
We  shall  join  them  no  more. 

VII. 

"  The  old  nurse  will  attend, 
When  we  go  to  the  mass ; 

What  an  eye  she  will  bend 
On  whoever  may  pass  ! 

VIII. 

"  No  new  gossip  we'll  learn, 
If  help  it  she  can ; 

How  she'll  frown  if  we  turn, 
To  look  after  a  man  ! 

IX. 

"  As  we  sit  at  our  work, 

From  the  lattice  she'll  peer, 
And  be  sure  to  remark 
If  a  gallant  comes  near. 

x. 

"  O  look  up  as  you  did, 
For  I'll  suffer  with  you  ; 

And  I'm  loth  to  be  chid, 
When  it  is  not  my  due."  — 

XI. 

"  O  sister  Minguela, 
How  little  you  know  ! 

You  guess  at  my  love, 

But  you  read  not  my  woe. 


MINGUELA'S   CHIDING. 


163 


XII. 


"  Young  Pedro  (you  know 
Tis  the  son  of  old  Juan), 

Promised  love  long  ago, 
But  has  left  me  in  ruin. 


XIII. 


"  Had  he  loved  as  he  swore, 
He'd  have  married  me  yet ; 

Oh,  I  love  him  no  more, 
But  I  cannot  forget ! " 


164       THE    CAPTIVE  KNIGHT  AND    THE  BLACKBIRD. 


THE 

CAPTIVE   KNIGHT   AND   THE   BLACKBIRD. 


THE  following  is  a  translation  of  a  ballad  in  the  Cancionero  01 
Antwerp,  1555. 

Pues  el  mes  era  de  Mayo,  &c. 

There  is  one  in  the  Cancionero  General  of  Valencia,  1511,  of 
which  this  would  seem  to  have  been  no  more  than  an  expansion. 
The  older  is  perhaps  the  finer  of  the  two.  It  is,  at  all  events,  so 
short,  that  I  shall  transcribe  it. 

Que  por  Mayo  era  por  Mayo 
Cuando  los  blandos  calores 
Cuando  los  enamorados 
Van  servir  a  sus  amores; 
Sino  yo,  triste  Mezquino, 
Que  yago  en  estas  prisiones 
Que  ni  se  cuando  es  de  dia 
Ni  menos  cuando  es  de  Noche; 
Sino  por  una  avecilla 
Que  me  cantaha  al  albor; 
Matumelo  un  ballestero 
Delo  Dios  mal  galardon ! 


"  Tis  now,  they  say,  the  month  of  May,  'tis  now  the  moons  are 

bright ; 
'Tis  now  the  maids,  'mong  greenwood  shades,  sit  with  their  loves 

by  night ; 

Tis  now  the  hearts  of  lovers  true  are  glad  the  groves  among ; 
Tis  now  they  sit  the  long  night  through,  and  list  the  thrush's  song. 


THE    CAPTIVE  KNIGHT  AND    THE  BLACKBIRD.      165 


II. 


"Woe  dwells  with  me,  in  spite  of  thee,  thou  gladsome  month  of 

May; 

I  cannot  see  what  stars  there  be,  I  know  not  night  from  day. 
There  was  a  bird,  whose  voice  I  heard,  oh,  sweet  my  small  bird  sung, 
I  heard  its  tune  when  night  was  gone,  and  up  the  morning  sprung. 


in. 


"  To  comfort  me  in  darkness  bound,  comes  now  no  voice  of  cheer, 
Long  have  I  listened  for  the  sound,  there  is  no  bird  to  hear. 
Sweet  bird  !  he  had  a  cruel  heart,  whose  steel  thy  bosom  tore ; 
A  ruffian  hand  discharged  the  dart,  that  makes  thee  sing  no  more. 


IV. 


"  I  am  the  vassal  of  my  King  —  it  never  shall  be  said 

That  I  even  hence  a  curse  could  fling  against  my  liege's  head  ; 

But  if  the  jailer  slew  my  merle,  no  sin  is  in  the  word, 

God  look  in  anger  on  the  churl  that  harmed  my  harmless  bird  ! 


v. 


"  O,  should  some  kindly  Christian  bring  another  bird  to  me, 
Thy  tune  I  in  his  ear  would  sing  till  he  could  sing  like  thee ; 
But  were  a  dove  within  my  choice,  my  song  would  soon  be  o'er, 
For  he  would  understand  my  voice,  and  fly  to  Leonore. 


VI. 


"  He  would  fly  swiftly  through  the  air,  and  though  he  could  not 

speak, 

He'd  ask  a  file,  which  he  could  bear  within  his  little  beak ; 
Had  I  a  file,  these  fetters  vile  I  from  my  wrist  would  break, 
And  see  right  soon  the  fair  May  moon  shine  on  my  lady's  cheek."  — 


VII. 


It  chanced  while  a  poor  captive  knight,  within  yon  dungeon  strong, 
Lamented  thus  the  arrow's  flight  that  stopped  his  blackbird's  song 
(Unknown  to  him),  The  King  was  near;  he  heard  him  through 

the  wall,  — 
"  Nay,  since  he  has  no  merle  to  hear,  'tis  time  his  fetters  fall." 


166  VALLADOLLD. 


VALLADOLID. 


[This  is  a  translation  from  one  of  the  Ballads  in  Sepulveda's  collection  (Ant 
werp,  1580)  —  the  author's  name  unknown. 

En  los  tempos  que  me  vi,  &c.,  p.  219.] 
I. 

MY  heart  was  happy  when  I  turned  from  Burgos  to  Valladolid  ; 
My  heart  that  day  was  light  and  gay,  it  bounded  like  a  kid. 
I  met  a  Palmer  on  the  way,  my  horse  he  bade  me  rein  — 
"  I  left  Valladolid  to-day,  I  bring  thee  news  of  pain  !  — 
The  lady-love  whom  thou  dost  seek  in  gladness  and  in  cheer, 
Closed  is  her  eye,  and  cold  her  cheek,  I  saw  her  on  her  bier. 

ii. 
"  The  Priests  went  singing  of  the  Mass,  —  my  voice  their  song  did 

aid ; 

A  hundred  knights  with  them  did  pass  to  the  burial  of  the  maid ; 
And  damsels  fair  went  weeping  there,  and  many  a  one  did  say, 
Poor  Cavalier  !  he  is  not  here  —  'tis  well  he's  far  away."  - 
I  fell  when  thus  I  heard  him  speak,  —  upon  the  dust  I  lay, 
I  thought  my  heart  would  surely  break,  I  wept  for  half  a  day. 

m. 

When  evening  came  I  rose  again,  the  Palmer  held  my  steed, 
And  swiftly  rode  I  o'er  the  plain  to  dark  Valladolid. 
I  came  unto  the  sepulchre  where  they  my  love  had  laid, 
I  bowed  me  down  beside  the  bier,  and  there  my  moan  I  made  : 
"  O  take  me,  take  me  to  thy  bed,  I  fain  would  sleep  with  thee  ! 
My  love  is  dead,  my  hope  is  fled,  —  there  is  no  joy  for  me !  " 

IV. 

I  heard  a  sweet  voice  from  the  tomb,  I  heard  her  voice  so  clear, 
"  Rise  up,  rise  up,  my  knightly  love,  thy  weeping  well  I  hear  ; 
Rise  up  and  leave  this  darksome  place,  —  it  is  no  place  for  thee, 
God  yet  will  send  thee  helpful  grace,  in  love  and  chivalry ; 
Though  in  the  grave  my  bed  I  have,  for  thee  my  heart  is  sore. 
Twill  ease  my  heart  if  thou  depart  —  thy  peace  may  God  restore  !  " 


THE  ILL-MARRIED  LADY.  16? 


THE   ILL-MARRIED    LADY. 


[This  is  from  another  ballad,  also  in  Sepulveda's  Collection.  "La  bella 
mal  maridada  "  must  have  been  very  popular,  for  I  have  seen  many  different 
glosses  of  it,  executed  in  the  time  when  that  species  of  poetical  trifling  prevailed 
among  the  Spanish  wits.] 


"  LOVELY  lady,  married  ill,  though  fairest  of  the  fair  thou  be, 
Grief  within  thine  eye  is  seated,  well  thy  lonely  grief  I  see. 
If  thou  seek  another  lover,  seek  not  farther,  rest  with  me, 
While  thy  faithless  lord  is  wandering,  faith  and  love  I'll  give  to 
thee. 

ii. 

"All  the  day  thy  husband  wanders  'midst  the  damsels  of  the  town, 
He  to  play  and  prado  squires  them,  while  thy  bosom's  peace  is 

flown ; 
Yesternight    I    heard    them    spotting,  merry  jibes   on   thee   they 

threw,  — 
Soon,  he  said,  thy  days  he'll  finish,  and  another  lady  woo."  — 

in. 

Out  and  spake  the  lovely  lady,  "  Thou  my  sorrow  well  hast  read ; 
Take  me  with  thee,  gentle  stranger,  let  me  quit  my  lonely  bed  ; 
Careless  eye  and  cruel  tongue,  weary  am  I  of  them  both, 
Let  me  swear  to  be  thy  love,  and  faithfully  I'll  keep  mine  oath. 

IV. 

"  I  will  serve  thee  late  and  early,  with  an  handmaid's  humble 

cheer, 

I  will  dress  our  capon  neatly,  I  will  pour  our  wine  so  clear ; 
I  will  deck  our  bed  so  fairly,  all  with  sheets  of  Holland  fine  — 
Take  me  where   thou  wilt,  I'm  weary  of  this   faithless  lord  of 

mine."  — 


168  THE  ILL-MARRIED  LADY. 

V. 

While  the  stranger  kissed  the  lady  in  her  chamber  o'er  and  o'er, 
Hush  !  the  husband  hears  their  voices  !  ha  !  he  open  knocks  the 

door,  — 

"  Traitress  false,  and  foul  adulterer,  have  I  caught  ye  in  the  deed  ? 
Now  to  God  commend  your  spirit.-,  great  of  mercy  is  your  need  ! "  — 


VI. 

"Husband,  bright  thy  sword  is  gleaming!  —  must  I,  must  I  die 

to-day  ? 

Save  thyself,  with  mortal  lover,  till  this  hour  I  never  lay. 
But  if  blood  thy  sword  must  drink,  hear  my  last  request,  I  pray, 
Harm  not  him  that  owed  thee  nothing ;  let  me  all  the  forfeit  pay  ! 

VII. 

"Though  thou  whip  me  with  thy  bridle,  silently  the  pain  I'll  bear ; 
Though  thou  hang  me  in  my  girdle,  anger  shall  not  stain   my 

prayer ; 

Let  the  youth  go  free,  and  slay  me  -  -  grant  the  only  boon  I  crave  ! 
Lay  me  in  the  orange  garden,  —  thei  e  I  fain  would  have  my  grave. 

VIII. 

"  Underneath  the  spreading  branches,  where  the  blossoms  bright 

are  shed, 

Deeply  dig  for  one  that  loved  thee  long  and  well,  a  peaceful  bed ; 
Lay  a  marble  stone  above,  and  let  its  golden  legend  be,  — 
'  Ladies,  shrink  from  love  unholy,  wa  .Tied  by  her  whose  tomb  you 

see.'  " 


DRAGUT.  169 


DRAGUT. 


[The  reader  of  Don  Quixote  will  remember  the  description  of  the  Captain 
Viedma's  landing  in  Spain  after  his  Moorish  captivity.  Dragut  was  a  cele- 
brated corsair  of  Algiers.] 


O  SWIFTLY,  very  swiftly,  they  up  the  Straits  have  gone, 
O  swiftly  flies  the  corsair,  and  swift  the  cross  comes  on, 
The  cross  upon  yon  banner,  that  streams  unto  the  breeze, 
It  is  the  sign  of  victory,  the  cross  of  the  Maltese. 


n. 

"  Row,  row,  my  slaves,"  quoth  Dragut,  "  the  knights,  the  knights 

are  near, 

Row,  row,  my  slaves,  row  swiftly,'  the  star-light  is  too  clear, 
The  stars  they  are  too  bright,  and  he  that  means  us  well, 
He  harms  us  when  he  trims  his  light  —  yon  Moorish  sentinel."  — 


in. 

There  came  a  wreath  of  smoke  from  out  a  culverine, 
The  corsair's  poop  it  broke,  and  it  sunk  in  the  brine ; 
Stout  Dragut  swims  ashore,  but  many  a  one  goes  down  ; 
Down  goes  the  fettered  Christian  with  the  servant  of  Mahoun. 


rv. 

But  one  of  Dragut's  captives,  a  happy  man  is  he, 
The  Christian  sailors  see  him  struggling  in  the  sea, 
They  hear  the  captive  praying  in  the  Christian  tongue, 
And  a  rope  from  the  galley  they  down  to  him  have  flung. 


170 


DRAGUT. 


V. 


It  was  a  Spanish  knight,  who  had  long  been  in  Algiers, 
From  ladies  high  descended,  and  noble  cavaliers, 
Hut  forced,  for  a  season,  a  false  Moor's  slave  to  be, 
Upon  the  shore  his  gardener,  his  galley-slave  at  sea. 


VI. 


But  now  his  heart  is  dancing,  he  sees  the  Spanish  land, 
And  all  his  friends  advancing  to  meet  him  on  the  strand.  - 
His  heart  was  full  of  gladness,  but  his  eyes  they  ran  o'er, 
For  he  wept  as  he  stepped  upon  the  Christian  shore. 


COUNT  ALARCQS  AND    THE  INFANTA   SOLISA.       171 


COUNT  ALARCOS  AND  THE  INFANTA  SOLISA. 


[Mr.  Bouterweck  has  analysed  this  Ballad,  and  commented  upon  it  at  some 
length,  in  his  History  of  Spanish  Literature.  See  Book  I.  Section  i. 

He  bestows  particular  praise  upon  a  passage,  which  the  reader  will  find  at- 
tempted in  the  fourth  line  of  stanza  xxxi.  of  the  following  version  — 

Dedes  me  a$a  este  hijo  amamare  por  despedida. 

"  What  modern  poet,"  says  he,  "  would  have  dared  to  imagine  that  trait,  at 
once  so  natural  and  touching?  " 

Mr.  Bouterweck  seems  to  be  of  opinion  that  the  story  of  the  ballad  had  been 
taken  from  some  prose  romance  of  chivalry;  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  find 
any  trace  of  it.] 


ALONE,  as  was  her  wont,  she  sate,  —  within  her  bower  alone  ;  — 
Alone,  and  very  desolate,  Solisa  made  her  moan, 
Lamenting  for  her  flower  of  life,  that  it  should  pass  away, 
And  she  be  never  wooed  to  wife,  nor  see  a  bridal  day. 

n. 

Thus  said  the  sad  Infanta  —  "I  will  not  hide  my  grief, 

I'll  tell  my  father  of  my  wrong,  and  he  will  yield  relief."  - 

The  King,  when  he  beheld  her  near,  "  Alas  !  my  child,"  said  he, 

"  What  means  this  melancholy  cheer  ? — reveal  thy  grief  to  me."  — 

in. 

"  Good  King,"  she  said,  "  my  mother  was  buried  long  ago, 
She  left  me  to  thy  keeping,  none  else  my  griefs  shall  know ; 
I  fain  would  have  a  husband,  'tis  time  that  I  should  wed,  — 
Forgive  the  words  I  utter,  with  mickle  shame  they're  said."  - 

IV. 

Twas  thus  the  King  made  answer,  —  "  This  fault  is  none  of  mine, 

You  to  the  Prince  of  Hungary  your  ear  would  not  incline  ; 

Yet  round  us  here  where  lives  your  peer? —  nay,  name  him  if  you 

can, — 
Except  the  Count  Alarcos,  and  he's  a  married  man."  — 


172        COUNT  ALARCOS  AND    THE  INFANTA   SOUS  A. 

V. 

"  Ask  Count  Alarcos,  if  of  yore  his  word  he  did  not  plight 
To  be  my  husband  evermore,  and  love  me  day  and  night? 
If  he  has  bound  him  in  new  vows,  old  oaths  he  cannot  break — 
Alas  !  I've  lost  a  loyal  spouse,  for  a  false  lover's  sake."  — 

VI. 

The  good  King  sat  confounded  in  silence  for  some  space, 
At  length  he  made  this  answer,  with  very  troubled  face,  — 
"  It  was  not  thus  your  mother  gave  counsel  you  should  do  ; 
You've  done  much  wrong,  my  daughter ;  we're  shamed,  both  I  anil 
you. 

VII. 

"  If  it  be  true  that  you  have  said,  our  honour's  lost  and  gone ; 
And  while  the  Countess  is  in  life,  remeed  for  us  is  none. 
Though  justice  were  upon  our  side,  ill-talkers  would  not  spare  — 
Speak,  daughter,  for  your  mother's  dead,  whose  counsel  eased  my 
care." 

VIII. 

"  How  can  I  give  you  counsel  ?  —  but  little  wit  have  I ; 
But  certes,  Count  Alarcos  may  make  this  Countess  die  : 
Let  it  be  noised  that  sickness  cut  short  her  tender  life, 
And  then  let  Count  Alarcos  come  and  ask  me  for  his  wife. 
What  passed  between  us  long  ago,  of  that  be  nothing  said  ; 
Thus  none  shall  our  dishonour  know,  in  honour  I  shall  wed."- 

IX. 

The  Count  was  standing  with  his  friends,  thus   in  the  midst  he 

spake  — 

"  What  fools  we  be  !  what  pains  men  dree  for  a  fair  woman's  sake  ! 
I  loved  a  fair  one  long  ago  ;  —  though  I'm  a  married  man, 
Sad  memory  I  can  ne'er  forego,  how  life  and  love  began."  - 

x. 

While  yet  the  Count  was  speaking,  the  good  King  came  full  near ; 

He  made  his  salutation  with  very  courteous  cheer. 

"  Come  hither,  Count  Alarcos,  and  dine  with  me  this  day, 

For  I  have  something  secret  I  in  your  ear  must  say."  — 


COUNT  ALARCOS  AND    THE  INFANTA   SOLISA.        173 
XL 

The  King  came  from  the  chapel,  when  he  had  heard  the  mass ; 
With  him  the  Count  Alarcos  did  to  his  chamber  pass ; 
Full  nobly  were  they  served  there,  by  pages  many  a  one  ; 
When  all  were  gone,  and  they  alone,  'twas  thus  the  King  begun.  — 


XII. 

"  What  news  be  these,  Alarcos,  that  you  your  word  did  plight, 
To  be  a  husband  to  my  child,  and  love  her  day  and  night? 
If  more  between  you  there  did  pass,  yourself  may  know  the  truth, 
But  shamed  is  my  grey-head  —  alas  !  —  and  scorned  Solisa's  youth. 


XIII. 

"  I  have  a  heavy  word  to  speak,  —  a  lady  fair  doth  lie 
Within  my  daughter's  rightful  place,  and  certes  !  she  must  die.  — 
Let  it  be  noised  that  sickness  cut  short  her  tender  life, 
Then  come  and  woo  my  daughter,  and  she  shall  be  your  wife  :  — 
What  passed  between  you  long  ago,  of  that  be  nothing  said, 
Thus,   none   shall   my   dishonour   know  —  in    honour  you  shall 
wed."  — 

XIV.' 

Thus  spake  the  Count  Alarcos  —  "  The  truth  I'll  not  deny, 

I  to  the  Infanta  gave  my  troth,  and  broke  it  shamefully ; 

I  feared  my  King  would  ne'er  consent  to  give  me  his  fair  daugh- 
ter;— 

But,  oh  !  spare  her  that's  innocent  —  avoid  that  sinful  slaugh- 
ter." — 

xv. 

"She  dies,  she  dies,"  the  King  replies ;  — " from  thine  own  sin  it 

springs, 
If  guiltless  blood  must  wash  the  blot  which  stains  the  blood  of 

kings : 

Ere  morning  dawn  her  life  must  end,  and  thine  must  be  the  deed  — 
Else  thou  on  shameful  block  must  bend  :  thereof  is  no  remeed."  — 


174        COUNT  ALARCOS  AND    THE  INFAN7^A    SOLISA. 

XVI. 

"  Good  King,  my  hand  thou  mayst  command,  else  treason  blots 

my  name  ! 

I'll  take  the  life  of  my  dear  wife  —  (God  !  mine  be  not  the  blame  !) 
Alas  !  that  young  and  sinless  heart  for  others'  sin  should  bleed  ! 
Good  King,  in    sorrow  I    depart." "  May  God   your  errand 

speed  ! "  — 

XVII. 

In  sorrow  he  departed,  dejectedly  he  rode 
The  weary  journey  from  that  place,  unto  his  own  abode  ; 
He  grieved  for  his  fair  Countess,  dear  as  his  life  was  she 
Sore  grieved  he  for  that  lady,  and  for  his  children  three. 


XVIII. 

The  one  was  yet  an  infant  upon  its  mother's  breast, 
For  though  it  had  three  nurses,  it  liked  her  milk  the  best ; 
The  others  were  young  children,  that  had  but  little  wit, 
Hanging  about  their  mother's  knee  while  nursing  she  did  sit. 

XIX. 

"  Alas  ! "  he  said,  when  he  had  come  within  a  little  space, 
"  How  shall  I  brook  the  cheerful  look  of  my  kind  lady's  face?- 
To  see  her  coming  forth  in  glee  to  meet  me  in  my  hall, 
When  she  so  soon  a  corpse  must  be,  and  I  the  cause  of  all ! " 


xx. 

Just  then  he  saw  her  at  the  door  with  all  her  babes  appear  — 

(The  little  page  had  run  before  to  tell  his  lord  was  near) 

"  Now  welcome  home,  my  lord,  my  life  !  —  Alas  !  you  droop  your 

head  : 
Tell,  Count  Alarcos,  tell  your  wife,  what   makes  your  eyes   so 

red?"  — 

XXI. 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  —  I'll  tell  you  all :  It  is  not  yet  the  hour ; 
We'll  sup  together  in  the  hall  —  I'll  tell  you  in  your  bower."  — 
The  lady  brought  forth  what  she  had,  and  down  beside  him  sate ; 
He  sat  beside  her  pale  and  sad,  but  neither  drank  nor  ate. 


COUNT  ALARCOS  AXD    THE   INFANTA    SOLISA.        175 


XXII. 


The  children  to  his  side  were  led  (he  loved  to  have  them  so), 
Then  on  the  board  he  laid  his  head,  and  out  his  tears  did  flow :  — 
"  I  fain  would  sleep  —  I  fain  would  sleep,"  —  the  Count  Alarcos 

said  :  — 
Alas  !  be  sure,  that  sleep  was  none  that  night  within  their  bed. 


XXIII. 


They  came  together  to  the  bower  where  they  were  used  to  rest, 
None  with  them  but  the  little  babe  that  was  upon  the  breast : 
The  Count  had  barred  the  chamber  doors,  they  ne'er  were  barred 

till  then ; 
"  Unhappy  lady,"  he  began,  "  and  I  most  lost  of  men  !  " 


xxrv. 

"  Now,  speak  not  so,  my  noble  lord,  my  husband  and  my  life, 

Unhappy  never  can  she  be,  that  is  Alarcos'  wife."  — 

"  Alas  !  unhappy  lady,  'tis  but  little  that  you  know, 

For  in  that  very  word  you've  said  is  gathered  all  your  woe. 

xxv. 

"  Long  since  I  loved  a  lady,  —  long  since  I  oaths  did  plight, 
To  be  that  lady's  husband,  to  love  her  day  and  night ; 
Her  father  is  our  lord  the  King,  to  him  the  thing  is  known, 
And  now,  that  I  the  news  should  bring !  she  claims  me  for  her 
own. 

XXVI. 

"  Alas  !  my  love,  alas  !  my  life,  the  right  is  on  their  side ; 

Ere  I  had   seen  your   face,  sweet  wife,  she  was  betrothed  my 

bride ; 

But,  oh  !  that  I  should  speak  the  word  —  since  in  her  place  you  lie, 
It  is  the  bidding  of  our  Lord,  that  you  this  night  must  die." 

XXVII. 

"  Are  these  the  wages  of  my  love,  so  lowly  and  so  leal  ?  — 
O,  kill  me  not,  thou  noble  Count,  when  at  thy  foot  I  kneel !  — 
But  send  me  to  my  father's  house,  where  once  I  dwelt  in  glee, 
There  will  I  live  a  lone  chaste  life,  and  rear  my  children  three."  — 


176        COUNT  ALARCOS  AND    THE  INFANTA   SOLISA. 

XXVIII. 

"  It  may  not  be  —  mine  oath   is  stro»g  —  ere  dawn  of  day  you  \ 

die  !  "  — 

"  O  !  well  'tis  seen  how  all  alone  upon  the  earth  am  I  — 
My  father  is  an  old  frail  man,  —  my  mother's  in  her  grave,  — 
And  dead  is  stout  Don  Garcia  —  Alas  !  my  brother  brave  ! 

XXIX. 

"  'Twas  at  this  coward  King's  command  they  slew  my  brother  dear, 
And  now  I'm  helpless  in  the  land  :  —  It  is  not  death  I  fear, 
But  loth,  loth  am  I  to  depart,  and  leave  my  children  so  — 
Now  let  me  lay  them  to  my  heart,  and  kiss  them  ere  I  go."  — 

XXX. 

"  Kiss  him  that  lies  upon  thy  breast  —  the  rest  thou  mayst  not 

see."  — 

"  I  fain  would  say  an  Ave."  —  "  Then  say  it  speedily."  — 
She  knelt  her  down  upon  her  knee  :  "  O,  Lord  !  behold  my  case  — 
Judge  not  my  deeds,  but  look  on  me  in  pity  and  great  grace."  - 

XXXI. 

When  she  had  made  her  orison,  up  from  her  knees  she  rose  — 
"  Be  kind,  Alarcos,  to  our  babes,  and  pray  for  my  repose  — 
And  now  give  me  my  boy  once  more  upon  my  breast  to  hold, 
That   he   may   drink   one   farewell   drink,  before   my  breast   be 
cold."  — 

XXXII. 

"  Why  would  you  waken  the  poor  child  ?  you  see  he  is  asleep  — 
Prepare,  dear  wife,  there  is  no  time,  the  dawn  begins  to  peep."  - 
"  Now  hear  me,  Count  Alarcos  !  I  give  thee  pardon  free  — 
I  pardon  thee  for  the  love's  sake  wherewith  I've  loved  thee. 

XXXIII. 

"  But  they  have  not  my  pardon,  the  King  and  his  proud  daugh- 
ter— 

The  curse  of  God  be  on  them,  for  this  unchristian  slaughter  !  — 
I  charge  them  with  my  dying  breath,  ere  thirty  days  be  gone, 
To  meet  me  in  the  realm  of  death,  and  at  God's  awful  throne  ! ''  — 


COUNT  ALAR  COS  AND    THE  INFANTA    SO  US  A.        177 
XXXIV. 

He  drew  a  kerchief  round  her  neck,  lie  drew  it  tight  and  strong 
Until  she  lay  quite  stiff  and  cold  her  chamber  floor  along ; 
He  laid  her  then  within  the  sheets,  and,  kneeling  by  her  side, 
To  God  and  Mary  Mother  in  miser)  he  cried. 

XXXV. 

Then  called  he  for  his  esquires  :  -  -  oh  !  deep  was  their  dismay, 
When  they  into  the  chamber  came,  and  saw  her  how  she  lay ;  — 
Thus  died  she  in  her  innocence,  i  lady  void  of  wrong, 
But  God  took  heed  of  their  offc  nee  —  his  vengeance  stayed  not 
long. 

X>  XVI. 

Within  twelve  days,  in  pain  and  dole,  the  Infanta  passed  away, 
The  cruel  King  gave  up  his  sou  1  upon  the  twentieth  day ; 
Alarcos  followed  ere  the  Moon  had  made  her  round  complete,  — 
Three  guilty  spirits  stood  right  soon  before  God's  judgment-seat. 


CHRONICLE  OF  THE  CID, 


RODRIGO   DIAZ    DE   B1VAR,    THE    CAMPEADOR. 


Bv   ROBERT  SOUTHEY. 


PREFACE 


THIS  Chronicle  of  the  Cid  is  wholly  translation,  but  it  is  not  the 
translation  of  any  single  work.  The  three  following  have  been  used. 

I.    CRONICA  DEL  FAMOSO  CAVALLERO  CID   RUYDIEZ  CAMPEADOR. 
Burgos,  1593. 

The  first  and  only  other  edition  of  this  Chronicle  was  printed  in 
1552.  The  Infante  Don  Fernando,  who  was  afterwards  Emperor, 
seeing  the  manuscript  at  Cardefia,  ordered  the  Abbot  Don  Fr.  Juan 
de  Velorado  to  publish  it,  and  obtained  an  order  from  his  grand- 
father Fernando  the  Catholic  King  to  the  same  effect.  The  Abbot 
performed  his  task  very  carelessly  and  very  inaccurately,  giving  no 
account  of  the  manuscript,  and  suffering  many  errors  to  creep  into 
the  text,  which  might  have  been  corrected  by  collating  it  with  the 
original. 

Beuther,  Escolano,  and  others,  ascribe  it  to  Abenalfarax,  the 
nephew  of  Gil  Diaz.  Berganza  is  of  opinion  that  the  main  part 
was  written  by  Gil  Diaz  himself,  because  the  manuscript  at  Car- 
dena  says,  "  Then  Abenfax  the  Moor,  who  wrote  this  Chronicle 
in  Arabic,  set  down  the  price  of  food  "  :  And  Abentaxi,  accord- 
ing to  him,  was  the  name  of  Gil  Diaz  before  his  conversion. 
Abenalfarax  is  named  in  the  end  of  the  book  as  the  author :  he 
concludes  therefore  that  it  was  completed  by  him ; .  . .  and  this  the 
Coronica  General  confirms  by  saying,  Segun  cuenta  la  Estoria  del 
Cid,  que  de  aqui  adelante  comfuso  Aben  Alfarax  su  sobrino  de  Gil 
Diaz  en  Valencia.  The  printed  Chronicle  however  says  Abenal- 
farax where  Berganza  reads  Abenfax,  and  writes  Alfaraxi  for  the 
Moorish  name  of  Gil  Diaz.  This  question  is  not  easily  decided. 
There  is  nothing  Arabian  in  the  style  of  the  Chronicle,  except  the 
lamentation  for  Valencia,  which  is  manifestly  so.  It  is  most  prob- 
ably the  work  of  a  Spaniard,  who  used  Arabic  documents. 

It  is  equally  impossible  to  ascertain  the  age  of  this  Chronicle.  The 
Abbot  who  published  it  judged  that  it  was  as  old  as  the  days  of  the 


182  PREFACE. 

Cid  himself.  This  supposition  is  absurd.  Lucas  of  Tuy  and  the 
Archbishop  Rodrigo  are  frequently  cited  in  it.  It  was  however  an 
old  manuscript  in  1552.  A  much  older  was  seen  in  1593  by  Don 
Gil  Ramirez  de  Arellano,  which  according  to  his  account  was  in 
Portuguese,  but  agreed  in  the  main  with  that  which  had  been  pub- 
lished. The  older  the  language,  the  more  it  would  resemble  Por- 
tuguese. Another  question  is,  whether  it  has  been  inserted  in  the 
Coronica  General,  or  extracted  from  it :  for  that  the  one  copied 
from  the  other  is  certain  :  but  it  is  equally  certain  from  the  varia- 
tions, that  each  must  have  had  some  other  original ; . .  .  perhaps  the 
Arabic.  If  the  Cronica  del  Cid  be  extracted  from  the  General 
Chronicle,  which  is  giving  it  the  latest  date,  even  in  that  case  it 
was  written  before  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century  ;  that  is,  little 
more  than  150  years  after  the  Cid's  death;  and  whatever  fiction 
has  been  introduced  into  the  story,  must  have  been  invented  long 
before,  or  it  would  not  have  been  received  as  truth,  and  incor- 
porated into  the  general  history  of  Spain.  This  question  has  not 
been,  and  perhaps  cannot  be  decided.  There  are  some  errors  in 
the  Chronicle  of  the  Cid  which  are  corrected  in  the  General 
Chronicle,  and  sometimes  it  contains  passages  which  are  necessary 
to  explain  an  after  circumstance,  but  are  not  found  in  the  other.1 

II.  Las  quatro  partes  enteras  dc  la  Cronica  de  Espana,  que 
mando  componer  el  Serenissimo  Rey  Don  Alonso  llmado  el  sabio, 
donde  se  contienen  los  acontesdmientos  y  hazanas  mayo  res  y  mas 
senaladas  que  suc,edieron  en  Espana,  desde  su  primera  poblacion 
hasta  cast  los  tiempos  del  dicho  senor  Rey.  Vista  y  cmendada 
mucha  parte  de  su  impresion  por  el  maestro  Florian  Docampo 
Cronista  del  emperador  rey  nuestro  senor.  Con  previlfgio  imperial. 

Fue  impressa  la  presente  Cronica  general  de  Espana  en  la 
magnifica,  noble  y  antiquissima  cibdad  de  Zamora ;  por  los  hon- 
rrados  varones  Augustin  de  paz  y  J^uan  Picardo  companeros  in- 
pressores  de  libros,  vezinos  de  la  dicha  cibdad.  A  costa  y  espensas 
del  virtuoso  varon  'Juan  de  Spinosa  mercader  de  libros  vezino  de 
Medina  del  Campo.  Acabose  en  nueve  dias  del  mes  de  deziembre. 
Ano  del  nascimiento  de  nuestro  Salvador  ^esu  Cristo  de  mill  y 

1  The  language  of  the  Cr.  del  Cid  \s  sometimes  of  greater  antiquity  than  the 
other, . . .  for  instance;  . . .  E  tamano  fue  el plazer  del  Rey  D.  Fernando  e  de 
los  suyos  qua.ma.no  fue  el  pesar  del  Rey  D.  Ramiro  de  Aragon  e  de  los  suyos. 

In  the  Cor.  Ger.  quan  grande  and  tan  grande  are  the  phrases.  But  this  is 
a  subject  which  none  but  a  Spaniard  can  properly  investigate. 


PREFACE.  183 

quinientos  y  quarenta  y  un  anos.  Reynando  en  Espana  el  Em- 
perador  Don  Carlos  nuestro  Senor  y  Rey  natural. 

Florian  de  Ocampo  relates  the  history  of  this  first  edition  in  his 
epistle  dedicatory  to  Don  Luys  de  Stuniga  y  Avila.  The  printers 
of  Zamora,  he  says,  came  to  him  and  besought  him  to  give  them 
something  which  they  might  publish  to  the  use  and  glory  of  those 
kingdoms  whereof  they  and  he  were  natives.  He  had  at  that 
time  in  his  house  a  manuscript  of  this  Chronicle,  which  had  been 
lent  him  by  the  Licentiate  Martin  de  Aguilar.  Aguilar  joyfully 
gave  up  the  manuscript  to  the  printers,  and  Ocampo  undertook  to 
correct  the  press  as  far  as  he  could  in  those  hours  which  he  could 
spare  from  his  studies  and  pursuits  :  this,  says  he,  I  did  with  such 
fidelity  that  I  would  never  permit  the  style,  nor  order,  nor  antique 
words  to  be  changed,  holding  any  such  alteration  to  be  an  offence 
committed  upon  the  work  of  another.  Notwithstanding  this  be- 
coming respect  for  antiquity,  Ocampo  passes  a  censure  upon  the 
style  at  the  end  of  the  Sumario.  He  says,  Todas  estas  cosas 
sobredichas  van  escritas  en  estas  quatro  paries  con  plabras  antiguas 
v  toscas,  segun  las  usavan  los  Espanoles  al  tiempo  que  las  hazian, 
quando  se  presdavan  mas  de  bien  obrar  que  de  bien  hablar  ;  puesto 
que  siemprefue  y  sera  gran  alabanfa  bien  hablar  a  los  qne  bien 
obran. 

The  Spanish  Chronicles  were  all  villanously  printed,  because  the 
printers  made  use  of  the  first  manuscript  they  could  find,  and  the 
correctors  did  their  best  to  bring  the  language  to  that  of  their  own 
times,  after  the  newest  and  most 'approved  fashion.  This  mischief 
Ocampo  prevented  as  far  as  he  could,  but  he  should  have  done 
more  ;  Ocampo  was  not  a  common  Corrector  of  the  Press ;  he 
was  Chronicler  to  the  King  of  Castile,  and  any  manuscript  in  the 
kingdom  which  he  had  asked  for  would  have  been  put  into  his 
hands  as  readily  as  that  of  his  friend  Aguilar.  The  copy  which 
he  implicitly  followed  happened  to  be  remarkably  faulty.  Words 
and  sentences  are  omitted  in  almost  every  column,  whole  chapters 
are  wanting,  and  even  one  entire  reign.  Zurita  collated  the 
printed  book  with  a  manuscript  of  great  antiquity,  which  had  once 
belonged  to  the  famous  Marques  de  Santillana  ;  and  this  copy,  in 
which  he  had  with  his  own  hand  inserted  all  the  omissions,  was  in 
the  possession  of  the  Marques  de  Mondejar.  An  imperfect  manu- 
script, which  is  likewise  of  great  antiquity,  is  at  Salamanca,  in  the 
Collegio  de  S.  Bartolome  ;  some  man  of  letters  has  prefixed  a  note 
to  it,  saying  that  it  contains  many  chapters  which  are  not  to  be 
found  in  the  printed  book  .  .  .  y  tienf  tambien  otra  utilidud  que 


134  PREFACE. 

es,  el  hallarse  aqui  los  vocablos  y  voces  castellanas  antiguas  en  su 
pureza,  sin  haberse  limado  al  tiempo  presente,  como  la  imprimio 
Florian  de  Ocampo.  If  this  writer  be  accurate,  the  copier  of 
Aguilar's  manuscript  had  modernized  the  book  as  well  as  muti- 
lated it. 

Ocampo  calls  this  work  la  Cronica  de  Espana,  que  man  do  com- 
poner  el  Serenissimo  Rey  D.  Alonso.  The  manuscript  which 
Zurita  collated  has  la  Estoria  de  Espana  que  fizo  el  mui  noble  Rey 
D.  Alonso.  The  Marques  de  Mondejar  possessed  three  manu- 
scripts, neither  of  which  supported  Ocampo's  reading,  nor  afforded 
the  slightest  ground  for  supporting  it.  On  the  other  hand,  Don 
Juan  Manuel,  Alonso's  nephew,  expressly  says  that  the  King  made 
the  Chronicle,  and  in  the  Prologue  the  King  says  so  himself. 
That  Florian  de  Ocampo,  who  printed  the  Prologue,  should  have 
overlooked  this,  is  inconceivable ;  and  why  he  should  deny  the 
King  wrote  it,  in  direct  contradiction  of  the  King's  own  authority, 
is  what  he  has  not  explained,  and  what  nobody  can  explain  for 
him.  Don  Fraacisco  Cerda  y  Rico  says,  the  real  author  was 
Maestre  Jofre  d  i  Loaysa,  Archdeacon  of  Toledo,  and  afterwards 
Abbot  of  Santarder ;  and  this  he  says  he  has  proved  in  a  disserta- 
tion which  was  ready  for  the  press.  I  know  not  whether  this  dis- 
sertation has  appeared,  neither  do  I  know  that  at  the  distance  of 
more  than  five  centuries  any  proof  can  possibly  be  obtained  to 
show  that  Alonso  the  Wise  did  not  write  the  history,  which  he  him- 
self says  he  wiote,  and  which  we  know  he  was  capable  of  writing. 

The  printed  Chronicle  is  divided  into  four  parts,  and  the  last 
part  is  not  Alonso's  work.  Ocampo  gives  it  as  his  own  opinion,  and 
that  of  many  other  intelligent  persons,  that  it  was  not  written  by 
the  author  ot  the  three  former,  because  it  contained  nothing  but 
what  was  to  be  found  in  other  books ;  because  the  style  was  dif- 
ferent, and  the  language  ruder,  .  .  .  the  whole  being  in  fact  com- 
posed of  frigments  put  together  without  any  attempt  at  improving 
them,  and  because  in  many  places  the  writer  expressed  himself  as 
if  he  had  been  contemporary  with  the  persons  whose  feats  he  was 
then  recox'ding.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  opinion  is  right.  It 
ends  with  the  death  of  King  St.  Fernando,  Alonso's  father.  It  is 
in  this  p  irt  that  the  history  of  the  Cid  is  contained. 

This  very  curious  work  was  reprinted  at  Valladolid  in  1604.  It 
is  the  later  edition  which  I  have  used. 


PREFACE.  185 

III.     POEMA   DEL   ClD. 

Sandoval  first  mentioned  this  poem,  which  is  preserved  at  Bivar, 
and  gave  the  four  first  lines,  calling  the  whole  "  Versos  Barbaras  y 
Notables."  Berganza  afterwards  inserted  seventeen  lines  in  his 
Antigitedades.  The  notice  which  they  thus  gave  of  its  existence 
excited  the  curiosity  of  Sanchez,  to  whom  Spanish  literature  has 
been  so  greatly  indebted,  and  he  published  it  in  the  first  volume  of 
his  Coleccion  de  Poesias  Castellanas  Anteriores  al  Siglo  XV. 

Some  leaves  are  wanting  at  the  beginning  of  the  manuscript,  and 
one  in  the  middle.  The  whole  fragment  consists  of  3744  lines, 
the  three  last  of  which  are  added  by  the  transcriber : 

Quien  escribio  este  libra  del'  Dios paraiso  :  Amen. 
Per  abbat  le  escribio  en  el  mes  de  mayo 
En  era  de  mill  e  CC  .  .  XL  V.  anos. 

Who  Per  Abbat  was,  and  whether  Abbat  implied  his  rank  or  his 
name,  cannot  now  be  known  :  ...  it  is  certain  that  he  was  the  copier 
of  the  book,  not  the  author,  by  the  language,  which  is  much  older 
than  the  date  of  the  manuscript.  But  there  is  a  difficulty  concern- 
ing the  date.  There  is  a  space  between  the  CC  and  the  XLV ; 
and  that  space  is  just  as  much  as  another  C  would  have  filled. 
Perhaps,  says  Sanchez,  the  copier  put  one  C  too  much,  and  erased 
it ;  perhaps  he  placed  the  conjunction  e,  part  of  the  date  being 
expressed  by  words  and  part  by  figures,  and  afterwards  erased  it  as 
superfluous ;  or  possibly  some  person  thought  to  give  the  manu- 
script greater  value  by  obliterating  one  C,  to  make  it  appear  a 
century  older.  The  writing  seems  to  be  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
It  is  of  little  consequence  ;  even  upon  that  supposition  the  date  is 
1307  ;  and  no  person  can  doubt  that  the  language  of  the  poem  is 
considerably  older  than  that  of  Gonzalo  de  Berceo,  who  flourished 
about  1220;  ...  a  century  is  hardly  sufficient  to  account  for  the 
difference  between  them.  Sanchez  is  of  opinion  that  it  was  com- 
posed about  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  some  fiftv  years 
after  the  death  of  the  Cid ;  .  .  .  there  are  some  passages  which 
induce  me  to  believe  it  the  work  of  a  contemporary.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  it  is  unquestionably  the  oldest  poem  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage. In  my  judgment  it  is  as  decidedly  and  beyond  all  com- 
parison the  finest. 

One  other  source  of  information  remains  to  be  mentioned,  the 
popular  ballads  of  the  Cid. 


186  PREFACE. 

ROMANCES  DEL  Cm. 

Sarmiento  (Mem. para  la  Hist,  de  la  Poesia,  §  546,  548,  550) 
delivers  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  popular  ballads  of  the  Twelve 
Peers,  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  Fernan  Gonzalez,  the  Cid,  &c.,  were 
composed  soon  after  the  age  of  the  heroes  whom  they  celebrate, 
and  were  what  the  Copleros,  Trouveurs,  Joculars,  and  all  the  com- 
mon people,  sung  at  their  entertainments.  That  these  being  orally 
preserved,  were  subject  to  frequent  alterations  as  the  language  of 
the  country  altered  ;  and  thus  when  at  length  they  were  committed 
to  writing,  their  language  was  materially  different,  but  their  sub- 
stance remained 'the  same.  In  support  of  this  authority  which  he- 
assigns  to  them  in  point  of  fact,  he  observes  that  the  Cor.  General 
frequently  cites  the  Joglares  or  popular  poets.  Their  present  form 
he  assigns  to  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

Sarmiento  describes  the  collection  which  he  had  seen  of  the 
Ballads  of  the  Cid  as  containing  one  hundred  and  two  ballads,  in 
old  style,  and  in  eight-syllable  verse.  This  is  the  Historia  del  in  in 
valeroso  Cavallero  el  Cid  Ruy  Diez  de  Bivar,  en  Romances,  en  len- 
guage  antiguo,  recopilados  par  yuan  de  Escobar.  Sevilla,  1632. 
The  ballads  in  this  little  volume  are  chronologically  arranged ;  it 
is,  I  believe,  the  only  separate  collection,  and  by  no  means  a  com- 
plete one.  Two  which  Escobar  has  overlooked  are  among  the 
Romances  nuevamente  sac  ados  de  Historias  Antiguas  de  la  Cronica 
de  Espana  por  Lorenzo  de  Sepulveda  vezino  de  Sevilla.  Van  ana- 
didos  muchos  nunca  vistos,  compuestos  por  un  Cavallero  Cesarii>. 
cuyo  nombre  se  guarda  para  mayores  cosas.  Anvers,  1566.  This 
volume  contains  forty-one  ballads  of  the  Cid,  scattered  through  it 
without  any  regular  order.  There  are  thirty-two  in  the  Romancero 
General,  en  que  se  contienen  todos  los  Romances  que  andan  im- 
pressos  en  las  nueve  partes  de  Romanceros.  Aora  nuevamente 
impresso,  anadido,  y  emendado.  Medina  del  Campo,  1602. 
Twelve  of  these  are  not  in  Escobar's  collection ;  and  probably 
others  which  he  has  overlooked  may  be  found  in  other  Romanceros. 
Many  of  these  ballads  are  evidently  little  older  than  the  volumes  in 
which  they  are  contained  ;  very  few  of  them  appear  to  me  to  bear 
any  marks  of  antiquity,  and  the  greater  part  are  utterly  worthless. 
Indeed  the  heroic  ballads  of  the  Spaniards  have  been  overrated  in 
this  country  :  they  are  infinitely  and  every  way  inferior  to  our  own. 
There  are  some  spirited  ones  in  the  Guerras  Civiles  de  Granada. 
from  which  the  rest  have  been  estimated  ;  but  excepting  these,  I 
know  none  of  any  value  among  the  many  hundreds  which  I  have 


PREFACE. 


187 


perused.     I  have  very  seldom  availed  myself  of  the  Romances  del 
CuL 

The  Chronicle  of  the  Cid  is  the  main  web  of  the  Story  of  the 
Cid.  I  have  omitted  such  parts  as  relate  to  the  general  history  of 
Spain  but  have  no  reference  to  Ruydiez,  and  I  have  incorporated 
with  it  whatever  additional  circumstances,  either  of  fact  or  cos- 
tume, are  contained  in  the  Cronica  General  or  the  Poema  del  Cid. 
The  poem  is  to  be  considered  as  metrical  history,  not  metrical 
romance.  It  was  written  before  those  fictions  were  invented  which 
have  been  added  to  the  history  of  the  Cid,  and  which  have  made 
some  authors  discredit  what  there  is  not  the  slightest  reason  to 
doubt.  I  have  preferred  it  to  the  Chronicles  sometimes  in  point 
of  fact,  and  always  in  point  of  costume ;  for  as  the  historian  of 
manners,  this  poet,  whose  name  unfortunately  has  perished,  is  the 
Homer  of  Spain.  A  few  material  additions  have  been  made  from 
other  authentic  sources,  and  the  references  are  given,  section  by 
section,  with  exemplary  minuteness. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IF  any  country  might  have  been  thought  safe  from  the  Saracens, 
it  was  Spain.  The  Wisi-Goths  had  been  nearly  three  centuries  in 
possession  of  it :  during  that  time  the  independent  kingdoms 
which  were  founded  by  the  first  conquerors,  had  been  formed  into 
one  great  monarchy,  more  extensive  and  more  powerful  than  any 
other  existing  at  the  same  time  in  Europe  ;  they  and  the  con- 
quered were  blended  into  one  people  ;  their  languages  were  inter- 
mingled, and  the  religion  and  laws  of  the  peninsula  had  received 
that  character  which  they  retain  even  to  the  present  day.  The 
Wisi-Goths  themselves  were  a  more  formidable  enemy  than  the 
Mahommedans  had  yet  encountered ;  in  Persia,  Syria,  and  Egypt, 
they  had  found  a  race  always  accustomed  to  oppression,  and  ready 
for  the  yoke  of  the  strongest ;  among  the  Greeks  a  vicious  and 
effeminated  people,  a  government  at  once  feeble  and  tyrannical, 
and  generals  who  either  by  their  treachery  or  incapacity,  afforded 
them  an  easy  conquest ;  in  Africa  they  overrun  provinces  which 
had  not  yet  recovered  from  the  destructive  victories  of  Belisarius. 
But  the  Spanish  Goths  were  a  nation  of  freemen,  and  their  strength 
and  reputation  unimpaired.  Yet  in  two  battles  their  monarchy 
was  subverted ;  their  cities  fell  as  fast  as  they  were  summoned, 
and  in  almost  as  little  time  as  the  Moors  could  travel  over  the 
kingdom,  they  became  masters  of  the  whole,  except  only  those 
mountainous  regions  in  which  the  language  of  the  first  Spaniards 
found  an  asylum  from  the  Romans,  and  which  were  now  destined 
to  preserve  the  liberties  and  institutions  of  the  Goths. 

No  country  was  ever  yet  subdued  by  foreign  enemies,  unless  the 
badness  of  its  government,  or  the  folly  of  its  governors  prepared 
the  way  for  them.  The  laws  of  succession  among  the  Wisi-Goths 
were  ill-defined  and  worse  observed.  There  were  claimants  to  the 
crown  abject  enough  to  be  willing  to  accept  it  from  the  hand  of 
the  Moorish  Conqueror,  and  fools  enough  to  suppose  that  a  con- 
queror would  give  it  them ;  actuated  by  this  vile  hope,  and  by 
the  desire  of  destroying  their  rival,  though  the  utter  overthrow  of 


190  INTRODUCTION. 

their  country  should  be  brought  about  by  the  same  means,  they 
invited  the  invaders,  and  aided  them  with  all  their  influence.  These 
wretches  are  inexcusable.  (Jount  Julian  was  provoked  by  heavier 
injuries  to  pursue  the  same  unhappy  course.  Rodrigo  the  reigning 
King  had  forcibly  violated  his  daughter.  An  act  of  manly  ven- 
geance would  have  been  recorded  with  applause ;  but  he  betrayed 
his  country  and  renounced  his  religion  to  revenge  an  individual 
wrong,  and  for  him  too  there  is  no  excuse.  There  is  little  for 
those  Arians  and  other  persecuted  sectaries  with  whom  Spain 
abounded,  who  welcomed  the  Moors,  or  willingly  submitted  to 
them  —  weak  and  miserable  men,  to  rejoice  in  ruin,  because  it  fell 
heavier  upon  their  oppressors  than  themselves  !  But  there  were 
two  classes  in  Spain,  the  Jews  and  the  slaves,  whom  the  grievances 
which  they  endured  justified  in  forwarding  any  revolution  that 
afforded  them  even  a  chance  of  change,  and  in  joining  any  invaders 
as  their  deliverers.  The  persecution  which  the  Jews  endured  from 
the  Wisi-Goth  Kings,  was  more  atrocious  than  any  to  which  that 
persecuted  race  had  yet  been  exposed  :  .  .  .  the  fiendish  system 
of  extirpation,  which  has  since  been  pursued  against  them  in  the 
same  country,  was  little  more  than  a  renewal  of  the  execrable  laws 
enacted  by  Sisebuto,  Suinthela,  Recesuinto,  and  Egica.  If  they 
were  detected  in  observing  any  custom  or  ceremony  of  their  reli- 
gion, they  were  to  be  killed  upon  the  spot,  or  stoned,  or  burnt ;  . . . 
and  finally,  upon  an  absurd  accusation  that  they  had  conspired 
with  the  Jews  of  Africa  and  other  provinces  to  rise  against  the 
Christians  and  destroy  them,  they  were  all  condemned  to  slavery, 
and  their  children  above  the  age  of  seven  taken  from  them  and 
baptized.  The  laws  respecting  slaves  were  iniquitous  in  the  high- 
est degree.  At  one  time  they  were  not  admitted  as  witnesses,  and 
the  law  which  disqualified  them,  classed  them  with  thieves,  mur- 
derers, and  poisoners.  If  in  spite  of  this  law  their  evidence  was 
taken,  it  was  not  to  be  believed,  though  it  had  been  forced  from 
them  by  torture.  When  it  was  found  that  this  disqualification  too 
frequently  obstructed  the  course  of  justice,  they  were  allowed  to  be 
heard  in  trifling  actions,  and  upon  any  deadly  fray,  provided  no 
free  witnesses  could  be  found.  In  questions  of  adultery,  treason, 
coining,  murder,  and  poisoning,  they  might  be  tortured  to  extort 
evidence  against  their  masters  :  he  who  gave  it  under  the  torture 
suffered  with  the  criminal,  but  if  he  gave  it  without  compulsion,  he 
escaped ;  this  law  must  often  have  occasioned  the  condemnation 
of  the  innocent.  If  a  slave  who  had  been  transferred  accused  his 
former  master,  that  master  had  the  privilege  of  repurchasing  him 


INTRODUCTION.  191 

to  punish  him  at  pleasure.  A  law  was  made  to  keep  the  children 
of  slaves  slaves  like  their  parents,  because,  said  the  legislator,  there 
is  a  great  confusion  of  lineage  when  the  son  is  not  like  the  father, 
and  as  the  root  is  even  so  must  the  branch  be;  By  a  stili  greater 
injustice,  if  a  runaway  slave  of  either  sex  married  a  free  person, 
under  pretence  of  being  free,  the  children  of  that  marriage  became 
slaves  to  the  owner  of  the  fugitive.  If  a  woman  married  her  slave, 
or  one  who  having  been  her  slave  had  been  emancipated,  both 
were  to  be  burnt.  The  very  sanctuary  was  forbidden  them  ;  they 
used  to  fly  to  the  churches,  that  the  clergy  might  hear  their  com- 
plaints and  compel  their  merciless  owners  to  sell  them ;  but  even 
this  refuge  was  taken  away,  and  it  was  enacted  that  they  should  be 
given  up  to  punishment.  There  was  a  penalty  for  harbouring  fugi- 
tive slaves ;  and  whosoever  admitted  one  into  his  house,  though 
the  runaway  called  himself  free,  and  did  not  immediately  carry 
him  before  a  judge  for  examination,  was  to  receive  a  hundred 
stripes  and  pay  the  owner  a  pound ;  the  neighbours  were  liable  to 
the  same  penalties,  if  they  did  not  supply  his  neglect ;  all  persons 
therefore  were  bound  to  examine  a  suspicious  stranger,  and  torture 
him  to  find  out  who  he  was.  If  they  omitted  to  do  this,  men  or 
women,  of  whatever  race,  family  or  rank,  were  to  suffer  two  hun- 
dred stripes,  churchmen  and  officers  of  justice  three  hundred,  and 
Bishop  or  Lord  who  was  thus  guilty,  either  for  compas.*'.on  or  for 
a  bribe,  was  to  forfeit  three  pounds  to  the  King,  ?nd  <f  )  penance 
during  thirty  days,  like  one  who  had  been  excomvnuni  ,ated.  The 
monstrous  severity  of  this  law  proves  how  frequently  these  unhappy 
people  fled  from  their  masters,  and  the  legislator  complains  that 
there  was  neither  city,  castle,  burgh,  nor  village,  in  which  runaway 
slaves  were  not  concealed.  Such  were  the  laws  of  the  Spanish 
Goths  respecting  slavery  !  where  such  a  system  was  established,  the 
first  invader  could  not  but  be  victorious,  because  he  found  recruits 
in  every  house.  The  kingdom  deserved  to  fall,  and  it  fell. 

The  Mahommedans  made  many  proselytes  in  Spain  as  well  as 
everywhere  else  where  they  established  themselves.  But  the  growth 
and  decline  of  all  Mahommedan  empires  are  necessarily  connected 
with  the  civil  and  religious  institutions  of  Islamism,  and  may  be 
traced  to  them. 

In  forming  a  new  religion,  Mahommed  aimed  at  making  its  ritual 
less  burthensome,  its  morality  more  indulgent,  and  its  creed  more 
rational  than  those  of  other  nations.  It  was  not  however  enough 
to  appeal  to  the  reason,  nor  even  to  the  passions  of  mankind,  with- 
out at  the  same  time  profiting  by  their  credulity.  To  the  Jews  he 


192  INTRODUCTION. 

announced  himself  as  the  Messiah,  the  conqueror  in  whom  their 
prophecies  centred ;  to  the  Christians  as  the  Paraclete  who  was  to 
accomplish  the  yet  unfulfilled  system  of  revelation.  The  mere 
robber  would  soon  have  been  crushed,  the  mere  philosopher  would 
have  been  neglected,  and  he  who  had  attempted  to  preach  the  in- 
communicable nature  of  Deity  either  among  Pagan  or  Christian 
Idolaters,  would  hardly  have  escaped  death  as  a  blasphemer.  God 
is  God,  was  a  tenet  to  which  none  would  have  listened  without  the 
daring  addition  that  Mahommed  was  his  prophet.  The  impiety  of 
one  reasonable  doubt  would  have  shocked  and  terrified  those  who 
believed  the  impudence  of  an  asserted  mission.  Reason  was  too 
weak  to  stand  alone,  and  clung  to  fanaticism  for  support. 

No  traces  of  a  disordered  mind  are  discoverable  either  in  the 
life  or  in  the  doctrines  of  Mahommed.  The  pure  theism  which  he 
preached  he  probably  believed ;  but  his  own  claims  proceeded 
from  ambition,  not  from  self-deceit.  Persevering  in  his  object,  he 
varied  the  means,  and  never  scrupled  at  accommodating  his  insti- 
tutions to  the  established  prejudices  of  the  people.  At  first  Jeru- 
salem was  chosen  to  be  the  metropolis  of  his  religion,  and  the  point 
toward  which  all  the  faithful  should  turn  their  faces  in  prayer.  This 
privilege  he  transferred  to  Mecca,  and  though  he  destroyed  the  Idols 
of  the  Caaba,  he  suffered  the  black  stone  which  was  the  great  object 
of  idolatrous  worship,  to  retain  its  honours.  Those  founders  or  re- 
formers of  religion  who  were  inspired,  and  those  who  believed  them- 
selves to  be  so,  have  spared  neither  the  prejudices,  nor  passions, 
nor  feelings,  nor  instincts,  which  opposed  them.  Mahommed  at- 
tempted no  such  conquest  over  human  nature  :  he  did  not  feel 
himself  strong  enough  to  conquer.  His  conduct  displayed  the  ver- 
satility of  a  statesman,  not  the  inflexibility  of  an  honest  fanatic. 

The  Moslem,  in  proof  of  their  religion,  appeal  to  the  plenary  and 
manifest  inspiration  of  the  Koran.  They  rest  the  divinity  of  their 
holy  Book  upon  its  inimitable  excellence  ;  but  instead  of  holding 
it  to  be  divine  because  it  is  excellent,  they  believe  its  excellence 
because  they  admit  its  divinity.  There  is  nothing  in  the  Koran 
which  affects  the  feelings,  nothing  which  elevates  the  imagination, 
nothing  which  enlightens  the  understanding,  nothing  which  ameli- 
orates the  heart :  it  contains  no  beautiful  narrative,  no  proverbs  of 
wisdom  or  axioms  of  morality  ;  it  is  a  chaos  of  detached  sentences, 
a  mass  of  dull  tautology.  Not  a  solitary  passage  to  indicate  the 
genius  of  a  poet  can  be  found  in  the  whole  volume.  Inspired  by 
no  fanaticism,  of  a  meagre  mind,  and  with  morals  of  open  and 
impudent  profligacy,  Mahommed  has  effected  a  revolution  which  in 


IXTRODUCTIOX.  193 

its  ruinous  consequences  still  keeps  in  barbarism  the  greatest  and 
finest  part  of  the  old  world.  His  were  common  talents,  and  it  is 
by  common  talents  that  great  revolutions  have  most  frequently  been 
effected  ;  when  the  train  is  ready  there  needs  no  lightning  to  kindle 
it ;  any  spark  suffices.  That  his  character  was  not  generally  mis- 
taken, is  evident  from  the  number  of  imitators  who  started  up : 
there  is  also  reason  to  suspect  that  it  was  as  well  understood  by 
many  of  his  friends  as  by  his  enemies.  Ali  indeed  believed  in  him 
with  all  the  ardour  of  youth  and  affection  ;  but  they  who  were  con- 
vinced by  the  sword  are  suspicious  converts,  and  among  these  are 
Abbas  and  Amrou  and  Caled,  the  holiest  heroes  of  Islamism.  Am- 
bition and  the  hope  of  plunder  soon  filled  his  armies,  and  they  who 
followed  him  for  these  motives  could  teach  their  children  what  they 
did  not  believe  themselves. 

The  political  and  moral  system  of  the  Impostor,  if  system  it 
may  be  called,  is  such  as  might  be  expected  from  one  who  aimed 
only  at  his  own  aggrandizement,  and  had  no  generous  views  or 
hopes  beyond  it.  That  his  language  and  his  institutions  have 
spread  together  is  not  to  be  attributed  to  him  :  this  great  political 
advantage  necessarily  arises  when  nations  are  either  civilized  or 
converted  by  force,  and  it  is  only  by  force  that  this  religion  has 
been  propagated  ;  its  missionaries  have  marched  in  armies,  and 
its  only  martyrs  are  those  who  have  fallen  in  the  field  of  battle. 
Mahommed  attempted  nothing  like  a  fabric  of  society  :  he  took 
abuses  as  he  found  them.  The  continuance  of  polygamy  was  his 
great  and  ruinous  error ;  where  ,this  pernicious  custom  is  estab- 
lished, there  will  be  neither  connubial,  nor  paternal,  nor  brotherly 
affection ;  and  hence  the  unnatural  murders  with  which  Asiatic 
history  abounds.  The  Mahommedan  imprisons  his  wives,  and 
sometimes  knows  not  the  faces  of  his  own  children ;  he  believes 
that  despotism  must  be  necessary  in  the  state,  because  he  knows 
it  to  be  necessary  at  home  :  thus  the  domestic  tyrant  becomes 
the  contented  slave,  and  the  atrocity  of  the  ruler  and  the  patience 
of  the  people  proceed  from  the  same  cause.  It  is  the  inevitable 
tendency  of  polygamy  to  degrade  both  sexes  ;  wherever  it  prevails, 
the  intercourse  between  them  is  merely  sexual.  Women  are  only 
instructed  in  wantonness,  sensuality  becomes  the  characteristic  of 
whole  nations,  and  humanity  is  disgraced  by  crimes  the  most 
loathsome  and  detestable.  This  is  the  primary  and  general  cause 
of  that  despotism  and  degradation  which  are  universal  throughout 
the  East :  not  climate,  or  the  mountaineers  would  be  free  and 
virtuous  ;  not  religion,  for  through  all  the  changes  of  belief  which 


194  fNTRODUCTION. 

the  East  has  undergone,  the  evil  and  the  effect  have  remained  the 
same. 

Mahommed  inculcated  the  doctrine  of  fatalism,  because  it  is 
the  most  useful  creed  for  a  conqueror.  The  blind  passiveness 
which  it  causes  has  completed  the  degradation,  and  for  ever  im- 
peded the  improvement  of  all  Mahommedan  nations.  They  will 
not  struggle  against  oppression,  for  the  same  reason  that  they  will 
not  avoid  the  infection  of  the  plague.  If  from  this  state  of  stupid 
patience  they  are  provoked  into  a  paroxysm  of  brutal  fury,  they 
destroy  the  tyrant ;  but  the  tyranny  remains  unaltered.  Oriental 
revolutions  are  like  the  casting  a  stone  into  a  stagnant  pool ;  the 
surface  is  broken  for  a  moment,  and  then  the  green  weeds  close 
over  it  again. 

Such  a  system  can  produce  only  tyrants  and  slaves,  those  who 
are  watchful  to  commit  any  crime  for  power,  and  those  who  are 
ready  to  endure  any  oppression  for  tranquillity.  A  barbarous  and 
desolating  ambition  has  been  the  sole  motive  of  their  conquering 
chiefs  ;  the  wisdom  of  their  wisest  sovereigns  has  produced  nothing 
of  public  benefit :  it  has  ended  in  idle  moralizings,  and  the  late 
discovery  that  all  is  vanity.  One  Tyrant  at  the  hour  of  death 
asserts  the  equality  of  mankind ;  another,  who  had  attained  em- 
pire by  his  crimes,  exposes  his  shroud  at  last,  and  proclaims  that 
now  nothing  but  that  is  left  him.  I  have  slain  the  Princes  of 
men,  said  Azzud  ad  Dowlah,  and  have  laid  waste  the  palaces  of 
Kings.  I  have  dispersed  them  to  the  East  and  scattered  them  to 
the  West,  and  now  the  Grave  calls  me,  and  I  must  go  !  and  he 
died  with  the  frequent  exclamation,  What  avails  my  wealth  ?  my 
empire  is  departing  from  me  !  .  .  .  When  Mahmoud,  the  great 
( iaznevide,  was  dying  of  consumption  in  his  Palace  of  Happiness, 
he  ordered  that  all  his  treasures  should  be  brought  out  to  amuse 
him.  They  were  laid  before  him,  silk  and  tapestry,  jewels,  vessels 
of  silver  and  gold,  coffers  of  money,  the  spoils  of  the  nations  whom 
he  had  plundered  :  it  was  the  spectacle  of  a  whole  day, . . .  but  pride 
yielded  to  the  stronger  feeling  of  nature ; .  . .  Mahmoud  recollected 
that  he  was  in  his  mortal  sickness,  and  wept  and  moralized  upon 
the  vanity  of  the  world. 

It  were  wearying  to  dwell  upon  the  habitual  crimes  of  which 
their  history  is  composed  ;  we  may  estimate  their  guilt  by  what  is 
said  of  their  virtues.  Of  all  the  Abbassides,  none  but  Mutaded 
equalled  Almanzor  in  goodness.  A  slave  one  day,  when  fanning 
away  the  flies  from  him,  struck  off  his  turban,  upon  which  Mutaded 
only  remarked  that  the  boy  was  sleepy ;  but  the  Vizir  who  was 


INTRODUCTION.  19=; 

present  fell  down  and  kissed  the  ground,  and  exclaimed,  O  Com- 
mander of  the  Faithful,  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing  !  I  did 
not  think  such  clemency  had  been  possible  !  ...  for  it  was  the 
custom  of  this  Caliph,  when  a  slave  displeased  him,  to  have  the 
offender  buried  alive. 

The  Mahommedan  sovereigns  have  suffered  their  just  punish- 
ment ;  they  have  been  miserable  as  well  as  wicked.  For  others 
they  can  feel  no  sympathy,  and  have  learnt  to  take  no  interest : 
for  themselves  there  is  nothing  but  fear ;  their  situation  excludes 
them  from  hope,  and  they  have  the  perpetual  sense  of  danger, 
and  the  dread  of  that  inevitable  hour  wherein  there  shall  be  no 
distinction  of  persons.  This  fear  they  have  felt  and  confessed ;  in 
youth  it  has  embittered  enjoyment,  and  it  has  made  age  dreadful. 
A  dream,  or  the  chance  words  of  a  song,  or  the  figures  of  the  tap- 
estry, have  terrified  them  into  tears.  Haroun  Al  Raschid  opened 
a  volume  of  poems,  and  read,  Where  are  the  Kings,  and  where  are 
the  rest  of  the  world  ?  They  are  gone  the  way  which  thou  shalt 
go.  O  thou  who  choosest  a  perishable  world,  and  callest  him  happy 
whom  it  glorifies,  take  what  the  world  can  give  thee,  but  death  is 
as  the  end  !  And  at  these  words,  he  who  had  murdered  Yahia 
and  the  Barmecides,  wept  aloud. 

In  these  barbarous  monarchies  the  people  are  indolent,  because 
if  they  acquire  wealth  they  dare  not  enjoy  it.  Punishment  pro- 
duces no  shame,  for  it  is  inflicted  by  caprice,  not  by  justice.  They 
who  are  rich  or  powerful  become  the  victims  of  rapacity  or  fear. 
If  a  battle  or  fortress  be  lost,  the  Commander  is  punished  for  his 
misfortune ;  if  he  become  popular  for  his  victories,  he  incurs  the 
jealousy  and  hatred  of  the  ruler.  Nor  is  it  enough  that  wealth, 
and  honour,  and  existence  are  at  the  Despot's  mercy ;  the  feelings 
and  instincts  must  yield  at  his  command.  If  he  take  the  son  for 
his  eunuch,  and  the  daughter  for  his  concubine ;  if  he  order  the 
father  to  execute  the  child,  it  is  what  Destiny  has  appointed,  and 
the  Mahommedan  says,  ...  God's  will  be  done.  But  insulted 
humanity  has  not  unfrequently  been  provoked  to  take  vengeance  ; 
the  monarch  is  always  in  danger,  because  the  subject  is  never 
secure  ;  these  are  the  consequences  of  that  absolute  power  and 
passive  obedience'  which  have  resulted  from  the  doctrines  of 
Mahommed  ;  and  this  is  the  state  of  society  wherever  his  religion 
has  been  established. 

But  when  Islamism  entered  Spain,  it  was  in  its  youth  and  vigour ; 
its  destructive  principles  had  not  yet  had  time  to  develop  them- 
selves ;  and  its  military  apostles  could  safely  challenge  corrupted 


1%  INTRODUCTION. 

Christianity  to  a  comparison  of  creeds.  No  nation  had  yet  been 
able  to  resist  them  ;  they  had  gone  on  from  victory  to  victory. 
With  the  majority  of  mankind  the  successful  cause  passes  for  the 
right  one  ;  and  when  there  were  so  many  motives  for  conversion,  it 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  greater  number  of  the  Spanish 
Goths  became  converts  to  a  triumphant  faith.  When  in  the  first 
years  of  that  faith  Amrou  led  an  army  against  Gaza,  the  Governor 
asked,  for  what  reason  the  city  was  attacked.  Our  Master,  re- 
plied Amrou,  has  sent  us  to  conquer  you,  unless  ye  receive  our 
religion  ;  do  this  and  ye  shall  be  our  companions  and  brethren. 
If  ye  refuse  this,  pay  a  yearly  tribute  for  ever,  and  we  will  protect 
you  against  all  invaders.  If  neither  of  these  terms  be  accepted, 
there  can  be  only  the  sword  between  us,  and  we  must  war  upon 
you  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  the  Lord.  This  was  the 
system  of  the  Mahommedans,  and  hitherto  no  policy  could  have 
succeeded  better.  The  Christians  who  retained  their  religion  be- 
came a  kind  of  Helots,  who  supplied  the  revenue  and  cultivated 
the  land  ;  they  were  everywhere  the  minority,  and  as  Mahommedan 
states  grew  round  them  on  all  sides,  it  was  not  long  before  they 
disappeared.  The  Moors  found  the  same  obsequiousness  in  Spain 
as  they  had  done  in  Africa  and  in  the  East.  The  main  part  of  the 
men  apostatized,  and  the  women  contentedly  learnt  a  new  creed, 
to  qualify  themselves  for  foreign  husbands,  or  for  the  renegades 
who  profited  by  the  ruin  of  their  country.  But  there  yet  remained 
Gothic  valour  and  Gothic  genius.  Pelayo  baffled  them  with  a 
troop  of  mountaineers,  the  wreck  and  remnant  of  the  nation.  This 
hero  was  strengthened  by  the  accident  of  his  royal  descent ;  but 
it  was  not  for  his  birth  that  his  fellow-soldiers  lifted  him  upon  a 
shield,  and  in  the  hour  of  difficulty  and  danger  acclaimed  him 
King.  In  a  strong  country,  with  the  defiles  of  which  he  was  well 
acquainted,  he  maintained  himself  against  the  neighbouring  Moors. 
His  own  weakness  was  his  best  security ;  foes  like  these  wen 
beneath  the  notice  of  the  conqueror ;  he  who  had  overthrown  the 
kingdom  of  the  Goths  did  not  stop  to  exterminate  a  handful  of 
banditti.  Once  already  had  Musa  crossed  the  Pyrenees  and  ad- 
vanced as  far  as  Carcassonne  :  he  now  proposed  to  overrun  France, 
proceed  through  Germany  and  Hungary  to  Constantinople,  and  by 
this  line  of  conquests,  connect  Spain  with  the  Saracen  empire. 
For  this  enterprise  he  was  preparing  when  a  courier  seized  the 
bridle  of  his  horse,  and  commanded  him  in  the  Caliph's  name  to 
set  out  for  Damascus.  There  was  retribution  in  this.  Musa  had 
imprisoned  Tarif  because  he  envied  his  glory  ;  he  himself  was  now 


INTRODUCTION.  V)1 

arrested  in  his  own  career,  and  detained  in  Syria,  while  secret 
orders  were  sent  to  destroy  his  whole  family.  All  who  were  in 
Africa  were  cut  off.  His  son  Abdalazis,  a  man  worthy  of  a  better 
fate,  had  been  left  governor  in  Spain;  but  the  commanders  of 
every  town  at  this  time  exercised  independent  authority,  and  his 
power  was  little  more  than  nominal.  To  strengthen  himself  by 
conciliating  the  Christians,  he  married  Egilona,  widow  of  the  late 
King ;  her  foolish  bigotry  was  one  occasion  of  his  ruin.  Finding 
it  impossible  to  convert  her  husband,  she  placed  saint-images  in 
all  her  apartments,  and  made  the  doors  so  low  that  he  could  not 
enter,  without  bowing  his  head  before  her  idols.  The  Moorish 
Chiefs  interpreted  this  as  an  artifice  on  his  part  to  entrap  them 
into  a  gesture  which  was  an  acknowledgment  of  their  inferiority. 
His  views  were  too  generous  for  their  comprehension.  He  wished 
to  introduce  the  Gothic  forms  of  freedom,  and  with  that  view  as- 
sembled them  in  a  Cortes.  They  murdered  him,  that  the  anarchy 
might  continue.  His  head  was  sent  to  Damascus,  and  the  Caliph 
bade  Musa  look,  if  he  knew  the  face.  The  broken-hearted  old 
man  retired  to  Mecca,  seeking  there  for  that  consolation  which, 
such  is  the  blessed  nature  of  religion,  every  religion  however  cor- 
rupted, can  in  some  degree  bestow  ;  and  there  he  ended  his  days. 
Spain  was  so  distant  from  the  capital  of  the  Caliphs,  that  they 
were  continually  exerting  their  authority  there,  lest  their  weakness 
should  be  discovered.  For  this  reason  it  was  their  policy  frequently 
to  change  the  Governor,  a  system  every  way  pernicious,  which  al- 
lowed integrity  no  time  to  be  useful,  and  hurried  avarice  into  rapac- 
ity. A  few  plundering  expeditions  were  made  beyond  the  Pyrenees, 
while  tyranny  and  extortion  provoked  frequent  commotions  at 
home.  At  length  Abderrahman,  as  well  to  employ  a  restless  peo- 
ple as  to  gratify  his  own  ambition,  collected  a  prodigious  army,  and 
burst  into  France.  The  cause  of  civilized  society  has  never  been 
exposed  to  equal  danger,  since  the  Athenians  preserved  it  at  Sala- 
mis.  Charles  Martel  met  him  by  Tours,  and  destroyed  him  and 
his  army.  To  revenge  this  defeat  was  for  awhile  the  great  object 
of  the  Moors,  and  Christendom  was  still  saved  by  the  same  hero. 
Dissensions  broke  out  between  the  original  conquerors,  and  the 
Moors  who  had  flocked  over  from  Africa :  an  army  of  Syrians  was 
called  in,  and  they  soon  became  a  third  party.  Meantime  Pelayo 
and  the  Spaniards  strengthened  themselves  in  Asturias.  Wherever 
they  advanced  they  found  a  number  of  Christians  ready  to  assist  in 
recovering  their  country.  Under  Alonso  the  Catholic,  they  became 
formidable,  and  then  in  their  turn  weakened  themselves.  His  su«> 


198  INTRODUCTION. 

cessor,  Froyla,  murdered  one  brother,  and  was  himself  murdered 
by  another,  who  seized  the  throne.  The  insecure  Usurper  made 
himself  vassal  to  the  Moors,  and  his  only  wars  were  against  the 
slaves  in  his  own  kingdom,  who  had  risen  upon  their  Christian 
masters. 

The  revolution  which  established  the  Abbassides  in  Syria,  erected 
another  dynasty  and  a  new  empire  in  Spain.  Abdoulrahman,  one 
of  the  Ommiades,  fled  from  the  massacre  of  his  family,  and  hid 
himself,  with  his  child  and  his  brother,  in  a  forest  beside  the  Eu- 
phrates, A.U.  749.  They  were  discovered,  the  boy  was  slain,  the 
two  brethren  rode  into  the  river.  One,  allured  by  the  promise  of 
his  pursuers  to  spare  him,  turned  back  from  the  dangerous  passage, 
and  was  immediately  murdered.  Abdoulrahman  swam  on,  and  ef- 
fected his  escape.  He  got  into  Africa,  and  had  found  adherents 
there  who  promised  to  protect  him  against  the  Governor,  when 
deputies  came  over  from  the  Spanish  Moors  to  invite  him  to  the 
kingdom  of  Spain  as  his  inheritance.  His  reign  was  a  perpetual 
warfare  against  those  who  transferred  their  loyalty  with  the  throne 
of  the  Caliphs,  or  against  chiefs  who  fought  for  their  own  aggran- 
dizement, and  called  it  the  cause  of  the  Abbassides.  Almanzor 
made  one  direct  effort,  and  sent  Ala  with  troops  from  Africa,  and 
the  whole  weight  of  his  authority,  to  destroy  the  last  of  a  rival  race. 
He  was  at  Mecca  when  the  head  of  Ala,  salted  and  filled  with  cam- 
phor, was  nailed  against  his  palace  door,  and  the  sight  made  him 
rejoice  that  the  sea  rolled  between  him  and  his  enemy.  The  Om- 
miade  triumphed  over  every  opposer  ;  established  his  throne  at  Cor- 
dova, and  left  the  undisputed  sovereignty  of  all  the  Spanish  Moors 
to  his  son.  The  race  of  Abdoulrahman  should  not  go  without  their 
fame.  An  astrologer  predicted  to  his  successor  Haccham,  a  happy 
and  glorious  reign,  but  only  of  eight  years.  In  the  belief  of  this  pre- 
diction he  reigned  with  the  wholesome  fear  of  death  before  his 
eyes,  and  no  act  of  injustice  or  cruelty  is  of  him  recorded.  T\v<> 
elder  brethren,  to  whom  he  had  been  wisely  preferred  by  his  father, 
attempted  to  dethrone  him  :  he  subdued  them,  and  then  settled  am- 
ple revenues  upon  these  dangerous  rivals,  when  they  were  at  his 
mercy.  Haccham's  armies  were  filled  by  soldiers  who  loved  him  ; 
and  when  a  father  died,  the  sons  received  his  pay  till  they  also  were 
of  an  age  to  serve.  The  Christians  resisted  him  with  courage  ;  but 
he  pursued  them  into  their  mountains,  and  burnt  the  palace  of 
their  Kings,  and  so  reduced  them,  that  when  a  wealthy  Moor  be- 
queathed his  treasures  to  ransom  his  countrymen  who  were  in  cap- 
tivity among  the  Spaniards,  none  could  be  found  to  profit  by  the 


INTRODUCTION.  199 

bequest.  The  Pyrenees  did  not  bound  his  exploits ;  he  completed 
the  great  Mosque  at  Cordova  with  the  spoils  of  Narbonne.  The 
liberality  of  this  Caliph  was  as  dangerous  to  the  Christians  as  his 
arms.  Of  his  body  guard,  which  consisted  of  five  thousand  men, 
three  thousand  were  renegades. 

The  reign  of  the  second  Haccham  was  more  troubled.  Always 
in  arms  either  against  the  Leonese,  or  his  own  rebellious  subjects, 
he  was  alike  terrible  to  both.  A  revolt  threw  Toledo  into  the 
hands  of  the  Christians,  who  were  too  feeble  to  keep  the  metropo- 
lis which  they  had  thus  recovered.  Another  mutiny  of  the  citizens 
incensed  Haccham,  and  the  vengeance  which  he  planned  was  in 
the  spirit  and  upon  the  scale  of  Asiatic  barbarity.  Their  fellow- 
citizen  Amrouz  was  made  Governor ;  he  lured  the  affections  of  the 
people,  and  tempted  them  to  plot  another  rebellion  in  which  he 
should  be  their  leader ;  and  he  persuaded  them  that  a  citadel  would 
be  necessary  for  their  defence.  They  built  one,  and  within  it,  a 
palace  for  their  new  Chief.  This  citadel  was  designed  to  keep  the 
people  in  obedience,  and  Amrouz  made  the  workmen  dig  a  pit 
secretly  within  the  walls,  deep  and  wide  and  long.  When  every- 
thing was  prepared,  Haccham  sent  his  son  to  Toledo,  on  some 
specious  pretext.  Amrouz  entertained  him  and  invited  all  who 
possessed  either  authority  or  influence  in  the  town  to  a  feast.  As 
they  entered,  they  were  seized ;  the  massacre  lasted  from  morning 
till  midday,  and  the  ready  grave  was  filled  with  five  thousand 
bodies.  No  provocation  can  palliate  a  crime  like  this ;  yet  all 
that  his  subjects  complained  of -in  Haccham,  were  his  sloth,  his 
excesses  at  table,  and  above  all  his  love  of  wine.  New  mutinies 
excited  him  to  new  cruelty ;  meantime  the  Christians  insulted  his 
border.  A  female  Moor  as  she  was  led  away  into  captivity,  called 
upon  Haccham  to  deliver  her.  Her  appeal  was  reported  to  him, 
and  it  roused  his  pride.  He  entered  the  Christian  territories  at 
the  head  of  a  victorious  army,  sought  out  the  woman,  and  with 
his  own  hand  broke  her  chains. 

A  second  Abdoulrahman  succeeded.  He  is  called  the  Victori- 
ous, though  he  was  more  fortunate  against  his  own  rebellious  sub- 
jects than  against  the  Christians,  who  gained  upon  his  frontier,  or 
the  Normans  who  plundered  his  coast.  Mahommed,  the  next  in 
succession,  left  thirty-three  sons ;  one  of  his  forty-four  brethren 
broke  the  line  of  inheritance  and  seized  his  nephew's  throne. 
The  Usurper  was  the  third  Abdoulrahman,  the  most  magnificent 
of  the  Moorish  Kings  of  Spain.  His  history  is  like  a  tale  of  East- 
em  splendour,  with  an  Eastern  moral  at  the  end.  To  gratify  the 


200  L\TRODUCTIOX. 

vanity  of  a  favourite  slave,  he  built  a  town  and  called  it  after  her 
name,  Zehra,  which  signifies  the  ornament  of  the  world.  There 
were  in  its  palace  a  thousand  and  fourteen  columns  of  African  and 
Spanish  marble,  nineteen  from  Italian  quarries,  and  a  hundred  and 
forty  beautiful  enough  to  be  presents  from  the  Greek  Emperor. 
The  marble  walls  of  the  Hall  of  the  Caliph  were  inlaid  with  gold  ; 
birds  and  beasts  of  gold,  studded  with  jewels,  spouted  water  into 
a  marble  basin  in  its  centre  ;  the  basin  was  the  work  of  the  best 
Greek  sculptors,  and  above  it  hung  the  great  pearl  which  had 
been  sent  to  Abdoulrahman  by  the  Emperor  Leon.  The  extent 
of  the  buildings  may  be  imagined  by  the  size  of  his  seraglio,  which 
contained  six  thousand  three  hundred  persons.  This  was  his 
favourite  abode.  After  the  chase,  to  which  twelve  thousand 
horsemen  always  accompanied  him,  he  used  to  rest  in  a  pavilion 
in  the  gardens ;  the  pillars  were  of  pure  white  marble,  the  floor  of 
gold  and  steel  and  jewellery,  and  in  the  midst  there  was  a  foun- 
tain of  quicksilver.  Yet  Abdoulrahman  left  a  writing  which  con- 
tained this  testimony  against  the  vanity  of  the  world.  "  From  the 
moment  when  I  began  to  reign,  I  have  recorded  those  days  in 
which  I  enjoyed  real  and  undisturbed  pleasure  :  they  amount  to 
fourteen.  Mortal  man,  consider  what  this  world  is,  and  what  de- 
pendence is  to  be  placed  upon  is  enjoyments  !  Nothing  seems 
wanting  to  my  happiness ;  .  .  .  riches,  honours,  to  say  everything, 
sovereign  power.  I  am  feared  and  esteemed  by  my  contemporary 
princes,  they  envy  my  good  fortune,  they  are  jealous  of  my  glory, 
they  solicit  my  friendship.  Fifty  years  have  I  reigned,  and  in  so 
long  a  course  of  time  can  count  but  fourteen  days  which  have  not 
been  poisoned  by  some  vexation." 

The  reign  of  his  son  Haccham  was  short  and  splendid  and 
peaceful.  He  wanted  to  enlarge  his  palace  at  Zehra  :  the  ground 
adjoining  was  the  property  of  a  poor  woman,  who  would  not  for 
any  price  sell  the  inheritance  of  her  fathers ;  the  workmen  took 
possession  by  force,  and  she  went  to  the  Cadi  Ibn  Bechir  with  her 
complaint.  Ibn  Bechir  took  a  large  sack,  mounted  his  ass,  and 
rode  to  the  Caliph,  whom  he  found  sitting  in  a  pavilion  which  had 
been  built  upon  the  place ;  he  prostrated  himself  and  asked  per- 
mission to  fill  the  sack  with  earth.  Having  obtained  leave,  he 
filled  it,  and  then  requested  the  Prince  would  help  him  to  lift  it 
upon  the  ass.  Haccham  attempted,  but  found  it  too  heavy. 
"  Prince,"  then  said  the  Cadi,  "  this  is  but  a  small  part  of  that  land 
whereof  you  have  wrongfully  deprived  one  of  your  subjects  ;  .  .  . 
how  will  you  at  the  last  jiui-iiu-nt  bear  UK-  burthen  of  the  whole  !  " 


IXTRODUCTION.  201 

He  restored  the  ground,  and  gave  with  it  the  buildings  which  had 
already  been  erected  there. 

The  Christians  acquired  strength  during  the  disturbed  reign  of 
the  second  Haccham.  A  race  of  able  kings  succeeded  Alfonso 
the  Chaste.  Ramiro,  Ordono,  and  another  Alfonso,  called  the 
Great :  then  came  a  feebler  line,  and  the  Christians  were  divided. 
New  states  were  erected  in  Navarre,  in  Catalonia,  and  in  Arragon  : 
if  these  sometimes  rivalled  the  Kings  of  Leon,  they  were  more 
dangerous  to  the  Moors,  and  the  common  cause  was  strengthened. 
But  the  separation  of  Castile  from  Leon,  was  a  dismemberment,  an 
actual  loss  of  strength.  The  bond  of  unity  once  broken,  jealousies 
and  wars  followed,  and  the  example  was  mischievous.  Galicia  was 
ambitious  of  becoming  independent  like  Castile,  and  frequent  re- 
bellions were  the  consequence.  Abdoulrahman  profited  little  by 
these  dissensions  :  his  power  was  employed  in  gratifying  a  passion 
for  splendour,  for  which  he  is  better  remembered  than  he  would 
have  been  for  a  life  of  greater  activity.  His  son  made  only  one 
campaign.  A  sickly  boy  succeeded  him.  Mahommed,  who  was 
appointed  his  guardian,  was  called  after  the  manner  of  the  Orien- 
tals, Alhagib,  or  the  Eyelid  ;  he  soon  acquired  and  deserved  the 
name  of  Almanzor  the  Victorious,  by  which  he  is  remembered  in 
history.  The  genius  of  this  man  well  nigh  proved  fatal  to  the 
Spanish  Christians,  weakened  as  they  were  by  their  own  divisions. 
The  Leonese  looked  on  with  unconcern  or  with  satisfaction  while 
he  ravaged  Castile,  and  the  Castilians  were  consoled  when  Leon 
suffered  in  its  turn.  Two  and  fi'fty  times  did  he  lead  his  armies 
into  their  country,  and  return  with  their  spoils.  Such  terror  had 
he  struck  into  them,  that  Bermudo  retreated  with  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment from  Leon  back  among  the  mountains  to  Oviedo,  the 
bodies  of  the  Kings  his  predecessors  were  taken  from  their  graves 
and  removed,  and  the  relics  of  the  Saints  and  Martyrs  packed  up 
for  flight.  This  fear  was  not  without  cause.  Almanzor  appeared 
before  the  walls.  Count  Guillen  was  in  the  city,  so  far  spent  with 
sickness  that  he  could  not  stand ;  nevertheless  when  he  heard  that 
the  Moors  had  made  a  breach,  he  ordered  his  men  to  arm  him  and 
carry  him  in  his  bed  to  the  place  of  danger.  There  he  encouraged 
the  Leonese,  more  by  his  presence  than  by  his  weak  efforts  ;  but 
there  he  maintained  the  breach  three  days,  and  there  when  another 
quarter  had  been  forced,  he  perished,  sword  in  hand,  in  his  bed. 
The  conqueror  carried  his  arms  farther  and  ravaged  Galicia.  San- 
tiago, the  tutelary  Saint  of  Spain,  the  God  of  their  battles,  could 
not  defend  his  own  Church.  Almanzor  sent  the  great  bells  from 


202  INTRODUCTION. 

Compostella  to  be  his  trophies,  and  hung  them  up  as  lamps  in  the 
Mosque  of  Cordova.  During  one  of  his  expeditions,  the  Chris- 
tians took  advantage  of  a  fall  of  snow,  and  occupied  the  mountain 
passes  to  intercept  his  return.  The  Moor  calmly  pitched  his  camp 
in  the  valley,  and  prepared  to  make  it  his  dwelling-place.  He 
ploughed  and  sowed  the  ground,  and  so  harassed  the  country  be- 
hind him,  that  the  Christians  offered  him  a  price  for  his  coming 
harvest,  and  implored  him  to  depart. 

They  who  could  not  triumph  over  him  while  living,  insulted  him 
with  lying  legends  when  he  was  no  more.  They  asserted  that  the 
Saints  whose  churches  he  had  profaned,  struck  him  with  his  mortal 
sickness,  and  that  when  he  died  the  Devil  was  heard  bewailing 
him  along  the  banks  of  the  Guadalquivir.  But  the  Moors  wrote 
truly  upon  his  monument,  What  he  was  is  seen  in  his  actions  ;  such 
a  Defender  of  Spain  will  not  be  found  after  him. 

Yet  the  ascendancy  which  Almanzor  obtained  by  these  triumphs 
eventually  ruined  the  Spanish  Moors.  Their  King  had  still  the 
nominal  authority  ;  whatever  splendour  his  state  required,  and  what- 
ever luxuries  could  tend  to  amuse  or  effeminate  him,  were  amply 
afforded  him ;  but  he  was  actually  a  prisoner ;  he  never  went  be- 
yond the  precincts  of  the  palace,  and  none  except  the  governor's 
friends  were  admitted  to  see  him.  For  a  character  thus  helpless 
and  enfeebled,  the  people  could  feel  no  respect ;  and  they  repeat- 
edly offered  the  throne  to  Almanzor;  he  was  satisfied  with  the 
substantial  sovereignty  which  he  enjoyed,  nor  could  he  be  tempted 
by  the  wish  of  leaving  a  legitimate  title  to  his  son  Abdalmelic,  a 
man  not  unworthy  of  such  a  father.  That  son  was  supported  dur- 
ing a  short  administration  by  his  own  moderation  and  his  father's 
fame.  His  brother,  who  succeeded,  had  less  talent  and  less  virtue  : 
he  usurped  the  royal  title,  abused  his  power,  and  was  soon  de- 
stroyed. Civil  wars  ensued ;  the  Spanish  Moors  espoused  the 
cause  of  one  adventurer,  the  Africans  who  had  flocked  to  follow 
Almanzor's  victories,  fought  for  another ;  the  race  of  Abdoulrah- 
man  was  cut  off,  and  his  empire  was  divided.  The  petty  tyrant  of 
every  town  now  called  himself  King,  and  crimes  and  miseries  mul- 
tiplied with  the  title.  The  lower  the  sceptre  sunk,  the  more  hands 
were  stretched  out  to  reach  it.  Ambition  takes  no  warning  from 
example.  Hymeya,  one  of  these  wretches,  asked  the  Cordovans 
to  make  him  King,  just  as  the  last  puppet  had  been  murdered. 
They  replied,  "  Do  you  not  see  the  tumultuous  state  of  the  city  ? 
the  populace  will  destroy  you."  "  Obey  me  to-day,"  said  he, 
"  and  kill  me  to-morrow."  Such  was  the  drunken  lust  for  power. 


INTR  OD  UC  TION.  203 

The  Moors  brought  with  them  into  Spain  the  causes  of  their 
own  destruction,  .  .  .  despotism  and  polygamy ;  consumptive  prin- 
ciples, which  suffered  indeed  the  body  to  mature,  but  when  the 
growing  energy  had  ceased,  immediately  began  their  morbid  and 
mortal  action.  These  causes  produced  their  inevitable  effects,  the 
war  of  brother  against  brother,  the  revolt  of  towns  and  provinces, 
the  breaking  up  of  kingdoms.  The  Spaniards  meantime  were  free  ; 
they  were  inferior  in  numbers,  they  were  less  civilized  than  their 
enemies,  and  their  history  is  sullied  by  acts  of  worse  barbarity  ;  .  .  . 
but  they  were  a  Christian  and  a  free  people.  The  moral  institu- 
tions of  Christianity  gave  them  a  decided  and  increasing  advan- 
tage. Even  its  corruptions  were  in  their  favour.  Mahommed  won 
his  first  victory  by  calling  for  an  army  of  Angels,  when  his  troops 
were  giving  way.  He  galloped  forward,  and  casting  a  handful  of 
sand  among  the  enemy,  exclaimed,  "  Let  their  faces  be  covered 
with  confusion  !  "  The  Moslem  believed  that  the  armies  of  God 
obeyed  his  call,  and  in  that  faith  they  were  victorious.  The  deliv- 
erers of  Spain  encouraged  their  followers  by  coarser  frauds ;  a 
hermit  had  promised  them  victory, ...  or  they  had  seen  visions, . . . 
or  the  Cross  which  was  their  banner,  had  appeared  to  them  in  the 
sky.  The  invention  of  a  tutelary  Saint  to  fight  their  battles,  not 
metaphorically,  but  in  person,  was  a  bolder  and  more  animating 
fiction.  Ramiro  had  fought  a  whole  day  long  with  the  Moors  ;  he 
kept  the  field  at  night  with  a  broken  and  dispirited  army,  who  were 
compelled  to  abide  the  next  morning's  danger,  because  they  were 
surrounded  and  could  not  fly.  The  King  called  them  together  and 
told  them  that  Santiago  had  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream,  and  had 
promised  to  be  with  them  in  the  battle,  visibly  and  bodily,  on  a 
white  steed,  bearing  a  white  banner  with  a  red  cross.  The  Leo- 
nese,  who  before  this  had  lost  all  hope,  began  the  attack,  shouting 
God  and  Santiago.  A  knight  led  them  on,  riding  a  white  steed, 
and  bearing  a  white  banner  with  a  bloody  cross.  They  utterly 
defeated  the  Moors.  A  general  tribute  in  bread  and  wine  was 
granted  to-  the  Saint's  church  for  ever,  and  a  knight's  portion  from 
the  spoils  of  every  victory  which  the  Christians  should  gain. 

This  pious  fraud  was  the  resource  of  genius  in  distress  ;  but  it 
had  been  preluded  by  deceit,  and  was  systematized  into  a  national 
mythology.  The  body  of  Santiago  had  been  discovered  under 
Ramiro's  predecessor ;  his  grandson  Alfonso  rebuilt  the  church  of 
the  Apostle  with  greater  magnificence  than  the  Christian  kings  be- 
fore him  had  ever  displayed  ;  and  its  priesthood  exercised  their 
ingenuity  in  inventing  legends  to  the  honor  of  their  patron  Saint, 


204  INTRODUCTION. 

and  to  their  own  emolument.  This  they  did  so  successfully  that 
Compostella  became  the  great  point  of  European  pilgrimage.  The 
merit  of  this  pilgrimage  was  enhanced  by  the  difficulty  and  danger 
of  the  journey ;  the  pilgrims  soon  became  so  numerous  that  par- 
ties of  Moorish,  and  perhaps  also  of  Christian  banditti,  associated 
to  plunder  them.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Canons  of  St.  Eloy 
erected  guest-houses  for  their  accommodation  along  the  road  from 
France,  and  money  and  estates  were  often  bequeathed  to  endow 
them  by  individuals  and  princes.  After  their  example  a  few  hidal- 
gos who  were  equally  devout  and  warlike,  joined  their  property, 
and  formed  themselves  into  a  religious  brotherhood  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  pilgrims.  War  never  stops  at  defence. 
They  soon  found  it  their  duty  to  attack  the  Misbelievers  :  and 
hence,  about  fourscore  years  after  the  death  of  the  Cid,  arose  the 
order  of  Santiago,  which  was  so  long  the  scourge  of  the  Moors. 

A  regular  system  of  deceit  practised  by  the  priests  for  their  own 
immediate  interest,  continually  freshened  and  invigorated  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  people.  To  obtain  the  profits  of  a  favourite  altar 
was  the  motive  which  influenced  the  inventor  of  a  Martyr's  body, 
or  of  an  Image  ;  but  where  Chapels  were  thus  founded,  cities 
sometimes  grew.  A  shepherd  told  his  fellows  that  he  had  followed 
a  dove  towards  a  rock,  whither  by  her  frequent  flight,  and  turning 
back  to  him  upon  the  wing,  she  seemed  to'  invite  him  :  there  he 
had  discovered  a  cavern  and  an  image  of  the  Virgin,  at  whose  feet 
the  Dove  remained  undisturbed,  being  conscious  of  divine  protec- 
tion. Such  was  the  devotion  of  the  people  that  a  town  was  soon 
built  there.  St.  Maria  la  Blanca  was  deserted  by  all  its  inhabitants 
for  this  holier  place  of  residence,  but  the  priests  and  people  go 
yearly  among  its  ruins  to  perform  a  service  for  the  souls  of  their 
forefathers  who  are  buried  there.  A  pious  Spaniard  employed  his 
life  in  improving  the  great  road  to  Compostella,  opening  thickets 
and  building  bridges  along  the  way.  About  twenty  paces  from  his 
little  hermitage  he  made  his  own  tomb.  The  pilgrims'  gratitude 
did  not  cease  when  their  benefactor  died.  His  tomb  became  a 
place  of  popular  devotion  ;  a  splendid  church  was  at  length  erected 
over  it,  and  that  church  is  now  the  Cathedral  of  a  City,  which  is 
called  St.  Domingo  de  la  Cal/,ada,  after  his  name.  A  hermit,  by 
name  Juan,  fixed  his  dwelling  on  Mount  I'ruela,  not  far  from  Jara  : 
he  built  a  chapel  on  one  of  its  summits,  and  dedicated  it  to  John 
the  Baptist.  Four  other  Monks  joined  him  :  the  fame  of  their 
piety  was  bruited  abroad,  and  their  chapel  became  the  chosen  spot 
for  the  devotion  of  the  Christians  round  about.  When  fuan  died 


/.  V  TR  OD  UC  TION.  205 

a  great  multitude  assembled  at  his  funeral ;  six  hundred  hidalgos 
were  among  them  ;  they  saw  their  numbers  and  the  strength  of 
the  country ;  the  feeling  which  had  brought  them  together  excited 
them,  they  elected  a  leader,  and  founded  the  kingdom  of  Navarre. 
The  local  deities  whom  their  Pagan  ancestors  had  worshipped 
were  less  numerous  than  the  Saints  who  patronized  the  churches 
of  the  Spanish  Christians.  Every  town,  almost  every  village,  had 
been  hallowed  by  the  death  or  burial  of  Martyrs,  to  whose  wonder- 
working bodies  the  faithful  were  led  sometimes  by  the  song  of 
Angels,  more  frequently  by  lights  hovering  over  their  holy  graves. 
Above  all,  the  Virgin  Mother  was  lavish  in  her  favours  to  Spain. 
Once,  she  descended  in  person  upon  a  stone  pillar,  which  she  left 
l>ehind  her,  and  which  is  held  at  this  day  in  as  high  veneration  by- 
thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  Catholics,  as  the  black  stone 
at  Mecca  is  by  the  Mahommedans.  Sometimes  she  sent  her  image 
down  from  Heaven.  Sometimes  a  dove  guided  the  chosen  discov- 
erer to  the  cavern  where  she  had  been  hidden ;  or  the  hunted 
beast  who  ran  to  her  ruined  altar  was  protected  by  her  pity,  or 
struck  dead  for  his  intrusion.  In  the  number  of  her  titles  the 
deified  Mary  exceeded  the  many-named  Diana,  as  well  as  in  the 
extent  and  effect  of  her  worship.  In  perusing  the  attested  history 
of  any  one  of  her  images,  the  reader  might  think  she  had  imparted 
to  it  all  her  power,  did  not  the  Goddess  of  the  next  great  shrine 
afford  a  catalogue  of  wonders,  equally  splendid,  equally  attested, 
and  equally  authentic.  These  miracles  were  easily  managed  in 
darkness,  and  amid  the  wilds  and  ruins  of  a  desolated  country. 
The  clergy  sometimes,  in  the  confidence  of  talent,  ventured  upon 
a  more  public  and  general  exhibition.  Fernando  the  Great,  A.D. 
1063,  sent  to  Benabet  King  of  Seville,  requesting  that  he  would 
let  him  have  the  body  of  St.  Justa  to  remove  to  Leon.  Three 
Counts  and  two  Bishops  were  the  ambassadors  to  beg  this  boon. 
Benabet  said  he  knew  nothing  about  it,  he  had  never  heard  of  St. 
Justa,  but  they  were  very  welcome  to  her  body  if  they  could  find 
it.  Upon  this  Alvito  the  Bishop  of  Leon  said  they  would  pray 
three  days  for  a  revelation.  At  the  close  of  the  third  day  Alvito 
fell  asleep  at  his  prayers,  and  there  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream  an 
old  man,  who  told  him  that  St.  Justa  must  not  be  removed.  Seville 
was  not  to  be  deprived  of  a  treasure  reserved  for  its  glory  when  it 
should  again  become  a  Christian  city,  ...  but  they  might  have  his 

body  instead And  who  was  he  ?  . . .   He  was  St.  Isidore.   Alvito 

humbly  entreated  him  to  be  dreamt  of  twice  more,  that  he  might 
be  sure  this  was  not  merelv  a  dream  :  and  the  dead  Bishop  gave 


206  INTRODUCTION. 

the  desired  proof.  At  his  last  appearance  he  struck  the  ground 
thrice  with  his  crosier,  saying,  "  You  will  find  me  here,  here,  here." 
In  the  morning  three  holes  were  seen  in  the  ground,  and  upon 
digging  there  they  discovered  his  body  in  full  odour.  The  court 
and  clergy  went  out  from  Leon  in  procession  to  meet  the  relics ; 
the  King  and  his  three  sons  bore  the  body  barefooted ;  all  the 
Monks  and  clergy  of  the  city  were  feasted  upon  the  occasion  ;  and 
Fernando  and  the  Queen  served  them  at  the  board. 

The  zeal  with  which  these  patron  Saints  were  worshipped  was 
proportionate  to  the  beneficial  power  which  they  possessed.  They 
could  preserve  their  own  district  from  pestilence,  and  if  for  the 
sins  of  the  people  they  sometimes  suffered  the  Infidels  to  violate 
their  sanctuaries,  they  never  failed  to  punish  the  violation.  In 
their  beatitude  they  were  still  influenced  by  human  feelings,  by 
gratitude,  and  by  national  and  local  affection.  A  Saint  was  the 
representative  of  his  townsmen  in  Heaven,  where  he  was  supposed 
to  receive  their  prayers,  and  exert  all  his  influence  in  their  behalf. 

The  religious  fervour  of  the  Moors  meanwhile  was  abating. 
Fanaticism  in  a  few  generations  becomes  bigotry.  The  belief 
which  the  first  Mahommedans  had  chosen  was  inherited  by  their 
children;  in  the  fathers  it  had  the  life  and  ardour  of  a  new  pas- 
sion ;  in  the  sons  it  was  become  habit,  inveterate  indeed,  but  cold. 
This  process  has  been  exemplified  in  every  age,  and  by  every  sect. 
The  Dominicans  and  Franciscans  of  the  present  day  profess  the 
same  tenets  which  their  predecessors  practised  at  the  massacre 
and  the  auto  da  fe.  There  are  analogies  in  nature ;  the  wolf  has 
been  tamed  into  the  dog :  and  swine  were  once  formidable  in  the 
forest. 

In  the  first  years  of  the  Moorish  conquest  the  Christians  carried 
on  a  perpetual  war  against  their  invaders.  There  was  no  alternative 
between  hostilities  and  submission  ;  but  during  the  anarchy  whicl 
soon  weakened  the  conquerors,  their  little  kingdom  acquired  a  re 
spectable  strength,  and  they  could  venture  to  rest  from  war  when 
peace  was  convenient.  A  righteous  national  hatred  was  encouraged 
by  their  leaders,  and  this  hatred  was  increased  by  religious  contempt 
and  abhorrence.  Yet  even  these  feelings  readily  gave  way  whenever 
either  public  or  individual  interest  required  their  sacrifice.  A  fre- 
quent intercourse  necessarily  subsisted  between  the  two  peoples ; 
discontented  chiefs  fled  to  a  Moorish  Court  for  protection,  and  the 
Christian  princes,  when  at  war  with  each  other,  scrupled  not  to  in- 
vite Moorish  assistance.  It  has  even  been  said,  that  when  the  king- 
dom of  Arragon  was  founded,  and  that  compact  established  between 


INTRODUCTION.  207 

the  sovereign  and  the  people  which  the  Arragonese  have  struggled 
so  nobly,  but  unsuccessfully  to  maintain,  one  of  the  privileges  pro- 
posed to  them  was,  that  they  might  choose  either  a  Christian,  or  a 
Mahommedan  King,  at  pleasure ;  but  they  rejected  it  as  a  thing 
which  ought  not  to  be  thought  of. 

Still  the  war  between  the  two  nations  was  a  war  of  extermination. 
Peace  was  never  named,  never  thought  of  as  a  thing  possible  ;  but 
because  perpetual  hostilities  would  have  destroyed  both  by  famine, 
they  made  occasional  truces  by  common  consent  to  recover  strength 
for  renewing  the  contest ;  or  the  weaker  power  purchased  a  respite 
by  paying  tribute,  till  he  believed  himself  strong  enough  to  revolt. 
These  intervals  were  short ;  the  Spaniards  could  never  long  endure 
to  be  idle ;  they  had  to  recover  the  country  of  their  fathers,  an 
honourable  and  a  holy  object ;  and  war  also  was  the  business,  the 
amusement,  the  passion  of  the  age.  It  was  in  war  that  the  chiefs 
found  their  sport  and  their  spoil ;  that  the  King  at  once  employed 
and  gratified  a  turbulent  nobility ;  that  the  people  indulged  their 
worst  passions,  and  believed  that  they  were  at  the  same  time  aton- 
ing for  their  sins.  And  what  a  warfare  !  it  was  to  burn  the  stand- 
ing corn,  to  root  up  the  vine  and  the  olive,  to  hang  the  heads  of 
their  enemies  from  the  saddle-bow,  and  drive  mothers  and  chil- 
dren before  them  with  the  lance ;  to  massacre  the  men  of  a 
town  in  the  fury  of  assault ;  to  select  the  chiefs  that  they  might  be 
murdered  in  cold  blood ;  to  reserve  the  women  for  violation,  and 
the  children  for  slavery  :  .  .  .  and  this  warfare  year  after  year,  till 
they  rested  from  mere  exhaustion.'  The  soldiers  of  Fernan  Gonza- 
lez complained  that  they  led  a  life  like  Devils,  like  those  in  Hell 
who  rested  neither  day  nor  night :  Our  Lord,  said  they,  is  like 
Satan,  and  we  are  like  his  servants,  whose  whole  delight  is  in  sepa- 
rating soul  from  body.  The  Spaniards  on  their  part  suffered  retali- 
ated cruelties,  and  the  perpetual  sense  of  danger.  At  one  time 
Knights,  Nobles,  and  Kings,  never  slept  without  having  the  war- 
horse  ready-saddled  in  the  chamber. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century,  Navarre,  Arragon,  and 
Castile,  were  united  under  Sancho  the  Great.  But  experience  had 
not  taught  the  Christian  Kings  good  policy,  and  when  accident  had 
joined  the  separate  states,  the  possessor  divided  them  at  his  death, 
desirous  that  his  sons  should  all  be  Kings,  though  thereby  they  in- 
evitably became  enemies.  Sancho  left  Navarre  to  his  eldest  son 
Garcia,  Arragon  to  his  bastard  son  Ramiro,  and  Castile  to  Fer- 
nando ;  and  these  latter  states,  which  had  long  been  independent, 
now  first  received  the  appellation  of  kingdom. 


206  INTR  OD I  'C  T/O.Y. 

Sancho  had  compelled  Bermudo  the  King  of  Leon  to  give  his 
sister  in  marriage  to  Fernando ;  the  King  of  Leon  had  no  children, 
his  sister  was  his  heir,  and  the  kingdom  therefore  would  fall  to  her 
husband.  Leon  had  long  been  declining ;  but  when  the  territories 
of  Sancho  were  divided  at  his  death,  Bermudo  hoped  to  recover 
its  old  ascendancy,  and  declared  war  against  his  brother-in-law. 
Fernando  called  Garcia  to  his  aid,  and  an  obstinate  battle  was 
fought.  Bermudo,  who  was  a  brave  man,  and  confident  in  his  own 
strength,  and  in  that  of  his  horse  Pelayuelo,  rode  into  the  C'astilian 
army,  meaning  to  engage  Fernando  man  to  man  ;  he  was  slain  in 
the  attempt,  and  Fernando  possessed  himself  of  Leon  by  the  double 
right  of  conquest  and  inheritance. 

The  elder  brother  regarded  with  impatience  the  division  of  his 
father's  kingdoms.  Fernando  had  excited  some  dispute  respecting 
their  boundary,  and  though  no  enmity  was  yet  avowed,  no  fraternal 
affection  existed.  It  happened  that  Garcia  fell  sick  ;  the  Castilian 
went  to  visit  him  at  Najara,  he  discovered  that  his  brother  designed 
to  imprison  him,  and  extort  a  cession  of  territory  for  his  ransom, 
and  he  hastily  departed,  and  then  sent  to  excuse  his  departure  on 
the  plea  of  urgent  business.  He  soon  feigned  sickness  and 
requested  Garcia  to  come  and  see  him  ;  the  King  of  Navarre 
came,  and  was  immediately  made  prisoner :  by  the  help  of  money 
he  effected  his  escape,  and  open  war  followed.  Garcia  in- 
vited the  Moors  to  his  assistance,  and  entered  Castile.  The 
armies  met  about  four  leagues  from  Bourgos,  near  Atapuerca.  St. 
Inigo,  the  Abbot  of  Ona,  endeavoured  to  persuade  Garcia  to 
peace ;  the  good  old  man  was  revered  by  him,  and  though  his 
persuasions  were  vain,  still  continued  in  the  camp,  hoping  he 
might  yet  succeed  in  his  mediation.  An  old  knight  called  Fortun 
Sanchez  tried  also  to  reconcile  the  brethren  ;  he  was  Garcia's  foster- 
father,  and  had  loved  them  both  from  infancy.  When  he  found 
that  his  advice  and  entreaties  were  of  no  avail,  knowing  the  danger 
of  Garcia,  and  that  he  could  not  prevent  it,  the  old  man  threw  off 
his  defensive  armour,  and  with  only  his  sword  and  spear,  went  fore- 
most among  the  enemy  to  die,  that  he  might  not  behold  the  over- 
throw and  destruction  of  his  foster-child.  Before  the  battle  began, 
two  knights  whom  Garcia  had  unjustly  stript  of  their  possessions 
came  to  him  and  demanded  that  he  would  redress  their  wrongs, 
and  for  the  future  respect  their  privileges.  The  demand  was  just, 
but  Garcia  gave  no  ear  to  it,  perhaps  provoked  that  it  should  be 
made  like  a  menace  in  his  hour  of  need.  They  then  renounced 
their  allegiance,  and  went  over  to  the  Castilian  army.  The  other 


f.VTKODUCTfOX. 


209 


knights  who  had  joined  with  them  in  their  remonstrance,  did  not 
indeed  desert  the  King,  but  they  served  him  without  good  will, 
and  without  exertion.  There  was  a  band  of  Leonese,  who  directed 
their  efforts  against  him  to  revenge  Bermudo ;  the  two  knights 
whom  Garcia  had  wronged,  fought  in  their  company,  and  one  of 
them  thrust  him  through  with  a  lance.  The  wound  was  mortal. 
He  died  upon  the  field  with  his  head  between  the  Abbot's  knees, 
the  pious  old  man  holding  it,  and  praying  and  weeping  over  him 
as  he  expired.  A  great  stone  was  set  up  as  a  monument,  by  the 
brook  side  where  he  was  slain.  In  consequence  of  this  victory  Fer- 
nando became  the  most  powerful  of  all  the  Kings  of  Spain,  Moor 
or  Christian.  It  was  in  his  days  that  the  Cid  began  to  distinguish 
himself. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK    I. 

SECT.  PAGE 

I.    How  King  Ferrando  reigned  in  Castile 219 

II.   Of  the  lineage  of  Rodrigo  of  Bivar 220 

III.  Of  the  strife  between  Count  Gomez  and  Diego  Laynez,  and 

how  Rodrigo  slew  him 220 

IV.  How-  Rodrigo  took  the  five  Moorish  kings 221 

V.    How  Ximena  Gomez  asked  Rodrigo  of  the  King  in  marriage,  221 

VI.    How  Rodrigo  accepted  her  for  his  wife 222 

VII.    How  Rodrigo  took  his  wife  home,  and  of  the  vow  which  he 

made  ....    222 

VIII.    Of  the  dispute  concerning  Calahorra 223 

IX.    Of  the  charity  of  Rodrigo  towards  the  leper 223 

X.    Of  the  combat  which  was  fought  for  Calahorra 224 

XI.    How  the  Counts  plotted  against  Rodrigo 225 

XII.    How  Rodrigo  gained  a  great  victory  over  the  Moors 226 

XIII.  Of  the  taking  of  Viseu 226 

XIV.  Of  the  taking  of  1  .amego 227 

XV.    ( )f  the  siege  of  Coimbra 228 

XVI.    How  Santiago  appeared  to  the  Greek  Bishop 229 

XVII.    Of  the  grant  made  by  the  King  to  the  monks  of  Lorvam 230 

XVIII.    How  Rodrigo  was  knighted 231 

XIX.    ( )f  the  taking  of  Montemor 232 

XX.    How  Ruydiez  was  called  the  Cid 232 

XXI.    How  the  Emperor  demanded  tribute  of  Spain  . 232 

XXII.   Of  the  answer  which  the  King  sent 233 

XXIII.    How  the  Cid  defeated  the  Lord  of  Savoy 234 

XXIV.    How  the  Pope  and  the  Emperor  yielded  their  demand 234 

XXV.    How  the  King  returned  into  his  own  land 235 

XXVI.    How  the  King  divided  his  dominions 235 

XXVII.    How  the  Infante  D.  Sancho  complained  of  the  wrong  which 

was  done  him 236 

XXVIII.    Of  the  death  of  the  King 236 

BOOK    II. 

I.    How  King  Don  Sancho  was  wroth  at  the  partition  of  the 

kingdoms 23° 

II.    How  the  Kings  of  Navarre  and  Arragon  came  against  Castile,  238 

III.  How  King  Don  Sancho  defeated  the  King  of  Arragon 239 

IV.  Of  the  beginning  of  the  strife  between  the  brethren 240 


212 


CONTENTS. 


SECT.  PAGE 

V.    How  King  Don  Sancho  had  a  meeting  with  his  brother  King 

Don  Alfonso 241 

VI.    Ho\v  King  Don  Garcia  sent  to  ask  aid  from  his  brother  King 

Don  Alfonso 242 

VII.    How  Don  Rodrigo  Kroja/.  slew  Verna 242 

VIII.   Of  the  battle  at  Agoa  de  Mayas 24 } 

IX.    How  King  Don  Garcia  fled  to  the  Moors 244 

X.    How  King  Don  Garcia  went  out  from  Santarem  to  battk-. .  . .  245 

XI.    How  Alvar  Kanez  asked  the  king  for  a  horse  and  arms 245 

XII.    How  King  Don  Sancho  was  taken,  and  of  the  death  of  Don 

Kodrigo  Frojaz 246 

XIII.  How  Alvar  Fanex.  rescued  the  King 247 

XIV.  How  King  Don  Garcia  was  taken 248 

XV.    How  King  Don  Sancho  went  against  his  brother  Alfonso. . . .  248 

XVI.    Of  the  battle  at  Vulpegera 249 

XVII.    How  the  Cid  delivered  King  Don  Sancho 250 

XVIII.    How  King  Don  Alfonso  fled  to  the  Moors 250 

XIX.   Of  the  friendship  which  Alimaymon  showed  to  King   Don 

Alfonso 251 

XX.    Of  the  talk  which  the  Moors  held,  in  what  manner  Toledo 

could  be  taken 252 

XXI.    How  Alimaymon  took  an  oath  from  King  Don  Alfonso 253 

XXII.    How  King  Don  Sancho  crowned  himself  King  of  the  three 

kingdoms '. 254 

XXIII.  How  King  Don  Sancho  went  against  Zamora 254 

XXIV.  Of  the  message  which  the  King  sent  to  Dofia  Urraca 255 

XXV.    Of  the  council  which  Dofia  Urraca  held,  and  the  answer  which 

she  gave 257 

XXVI.    How  the  King  was  wroth  with  the  Cid 258 

XXVII.    How  Dofia  Urraca  resolved  to  yield  the  town 259 

XXVIII.    How  Vellido  Dolfos  fled  out  of  the  town 260 

XXIX.    How  the  men  of  Zamora  warned  King  Don   Sancho  of  the 

treason  which  was  designed 261 

XXX.    How  King  Don  Sancho  was  slain  by  treason 262 

XXXI.    How  Vellido  Dolfos  fled  to  Dofia  Urraca  for  protection 2<> ; 

XXXII.   Of  the  death  of  the  King j.,4 

BOOK    III. 

I.    How  it  was  resolved  to  impeach  the  people  of  Xamora 266 

II.    How  Don  Diego  Ordonez  made  the  impeachment 266 

III.  Of  the  manner  in  which  the  combat  was  to  be  performed  ....  267 

IV.  How  Don  Arias  and  his  sons  resolved  to  do  combat  for  /amora,  268 
V.    How  Don  Arias  was  persuaded  that  his  son  I'edrarias  should 

do  battle  in  his  stead 268 

VI.   Of  the  first  combat 269 

VII.    Of  the  second  combat 270 

VIII.    Of  the  third  combat,  and  how  it  was  left  undetermined 271 

IX.    How  King  Don  Alfonso  departed  from  Toledo    272 

X.    How  the  Cid  would  not  kiss  the  King's  hand 273 


CONTENTS. 


213 


PAGE 

XI.    Of  the  oath  which  King  Don  Alfonso  took 274 

XII.    How  Don  Alfonso  was  crowned  King 275 

XIII.  How  King  Don  Alfonso  went  to  succour  Alimaymon 276 

XIV.  How  the  King  went  into  Toledo 276 

XV.    Of  the  noble  dealing  of  the  King  with  Alimaymon 276 

XVI.    How  my  Cid  won  many  battles 277 

XVII.    How  King  Don  Alfonso  was  made  wroth  with  the  Cid 278 

XVIII.    How  the  Cid  was  wrongfully  banished 279 

XIX.    How  the  Cid  departed  from  his  own  house,  being  a  banished 

man 280 

XX.    1  low  the  Burgalese  dared  not  receive  him 280 

XXI.    Ho\v  the  Cid  sent  to  borrow  money  of  the  Jews 281 

XXII.    How  the  Jews  lent  the  money  and  took  away  the  chests 282 

XXIII.  How  the  Cid  went  to  Dofia  Ximena  at  Cardena 283 

XXIV.  How  the  Cid  took  leave  of  his  wife  and  daughters 284 

XXV.    How  the  Cid  left  the  kingdom  of  King  Don  Alfonso    285 

BOOK    IV. 

I.    How  the  Cid  won  the  castle  of  Castrejon    287 

II.    How  the  Cid  sold  his  spoil  to  the  Moors 287 

III.  How  the  Cid  went  against  Alcocer 288 

IV.  Of  the  taking  of  Alcocer    289 

V.    How  the  King  of  Valencia  sent  orders  to  take  the  Cid  alive    . .  290 

VI.    How  the  Cid  was  besieged  in  Alcocer ....  290 

VII.    How  the  Cid  went  out  to  give  them  battle   291 

VIII.    How  Pedro  Bermudez  carried  the  banner  into  the  middle  of 

the  Moors    ; 291 

IX.   Of  the  great  victory  won  by  the  Cid 292 

X.   How  the  Cid  sent  a  present  to  King  Don  Alfonso 293 

XI.    How  Alvar  Fanez  presented  the  horses  to  the  King    294 

XII.    How  the  Cid  departed  from  Alcocer   295 

XIII.  How  the  Cid  was  received  into  Zaragoza 295 

XIV.  How  the  Cid  spoiled  the  country 296 

XV.    How  Don  Ramon  Berenguer  came  to  take  away  his  spoil  from 

the  Cid   ' 296 

XVI.   Of  the  great  bounty  of  the  Cid  towards  Don  Ramon  Berenguer,  297 

XVII.    How  the  Cid  won  all  the  lands  of  Borriana    299 

XVIII.    How  the  Cid  defeated  King  Abenalfange  and  Don   Ramon 

Berenguer 299 

XIX.    Of  the  great  treason  which  was  committed  at  Rueda 300 

XX.    How  the  Cid  took  the  castle  of  Rueda    301 

XXI.    How  the  Cid  took  King  Don  Pedro  of  Arragon  prisoner 301 

XXII.   How  the  Cid  returned  into  Castile 3°2 

BOOK   V. 

I.    How  the  King  of  Badajoz  would  have  taken  Toledo 303 

II.    How  Diego  Rodriguez,  the  son  of  the  Cid,  was  slain    303 

III.   How  King  Don  Alfofcso  went  against  Toledo    3°4 


214 


CONTEXTS. 


SECT.  PAGE 

IV.  Of  the  taking  of  Toledo 304 

V.    How  Yahia  went  to  spy  the  state  of  Valencia 305 

VI.    How  Yahia  was  received  into  Valencia 306 

VII.   Of  the  tax  which  was  raised  for  barley  for  the  Christians   307 

VIII.    How  Yahia  went  against  Abenmazot  in  Xativa 307 

IX.    How  Abenalfange  came  to  help  Abenmazot   308 

X.    How  Alvar  Fanez  plundered  the  country   309 

XI.   Of  the  covenant  which  one  of  the  sons  of  Abdalla  Azis  made 

with  King  Don  Alfonso 310 

XII.    How  Alvar  Fanez  was  called  away  from  Valencia 311 

XIII.    How  the  Cid  went  to  Zaragoza 312 

XIV.    How  the  King  of  Zaragoza  could    not   win    the   city   as  he 

thought 312 

XV.    How  Count  Ramon  Berenguer  came  against  Valencia 313 

XVI.   Of  the  covenant  which  was  made  between  King  Yahia  and  the 

Cid   ' 314 

XVII.    How  Count  Ramon  came  with  a  great  power  of  Frenchmen 

against  the  Cid    314 

XVIII.   Of  the  letter  which  Count  Ramon  sent  unto  the  Cid 315 

XIX.   Of  the  letter  which  the  Cid  sent  in  reply 316 

XX.    How  the  Cid  defeated  Count  Ramon 316 

XXI.   Of  the  death  of  Abenalfange,  and  how  the  Cid  became  master 

in  the  land 318 

XXII.    How  the  Cid  went  to  Requena,  thinking  to  meet  the  King. . .  319 

XXIII.  How  King  Don  Alfonso  banished  the  Cid  a  second  time   319 

XXIV.  How  the  Cid  laid  waste  the  lands  of  King  Don  Alfonso,  and 

the  King  did  him  justice   320 

XXV.    How  Abeniaf  sent  to  the  Almoravides  to  come  against  Va- 
lencia     321 

XXVI.    How  Valencia  was  won  by  the  Almoravides 322 

XXVII.    How  Abeniaf  put  King  Yahia  to  death  322 

BOOK    VI. 

I.    How  Abeniaf  was  greatly  puffed  up 324 

II.    How  the  Cid  sent  letters  to  Abeniaf    324 

III.  How  the  Cid  laid  siege  to  Juballa    325 

IV.  How  the  Cid  warred  against  Valencia 326 

V.  How  the  Cid  offered  to  support  Abeniaf,  who  agreed  to  send  327 

away  the  Almoravides    327 

VI.    How  Abeniaf  sent  great  treasures  to  the  Miramamolin 327 

VII.    How  the  Cid  won  the  suburb  of  Alcudia 328 

VIII.    How  they  of  Valencia  sent  away  the  Almoravides,  and  made 

peace  with  the  Cid   '. 329 

IX.    How  Juballa  became  a  great  town   330 

X.    How  the  Cid  made  war  upon  Albarazin    331 

XI.    How  Abeniaf  sent  for  the  Cid 331 

XII.    How  the  Cid  asked  Abeniaf  to  give  him  a  garden 332 

XI 11.    How  they  of  Valencia  took  courage  because  of  the  approach  of 

the  Almoravides 333 


CONTENTS. 


215 


SECT>  PAGE 

XIV.    Of  the  great  rain   and  wind  which  caused  the  Almoravides  to 

turn  back 333 

XV.   Of  the  great  price  of  food  in  Valencia,  and  how  the  suburbs 

were  destroyed 334 

XVI.    How  the  Almoravides  returned  into  their  own  country 335 

XVII.    Of  the  lamentation  which  was  made  for  Valencia 336 

XVIII.    How  they  of  Valencia  put  their  trust  again  in  Abeniaf 337 

XIX.    How  Abeniaf  took  the  sons  of  Aboegib  and  delivered  them  to 

the  Cid 338 

XX.    How  Abeniaf  went  out  to  meet  the  Cid,  and  how  he  would  not 

keep  the  terms  which  were  made 339 

XXI.    Of  the  pride  and  tyranny  of  Abeniaf;   and  how  the  price  of 

food  waxed  more  and  more 341 

XXII.    Of  the  famine  which  there  was  in  Valencia 341 

XXIII.  How  they  sent  to  ask  aid  of  the  King  of  Zarago/a 342 

XXIV.  Of  the  answer  of  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  of  the  search 

which  Abeniaf  made  for  food 343 

XXV.    How  the  King  of  Zaragoza  sent  letters  to  Valencia 344 

XXVI.    How  Abenmoxiz  rose  against  Abeniaf,  and  how  he  was  taken,  345 
XXVII.    How  the  Cid  attacked  the  city  and  was  put  to  the  worst,  and 

of  the  great  cruelty  which  he  committed  upon  the  Moors,  346 
XXVIII.    How  the  people  went  to  an  Alfaqui,  and  it  was  accorded  that 

he  should  go  between  them  and  the  Cid 347 

XXIX.    How  the  Cid  made  Martin  Pelaez  of  a  coward  a  good  knight,  348 
XXX.    How  the  city  was  to  be  yielded  up,  if  succour  did  not  come 

within  fifteen  days 350 

XXXI.    Of  the  riches  which  were  found  upon  the  messengers,  and  of 

the  price  of  food 35 1 

XXXII.    How  the  city  was  yielded  up 352 

BOOK   VII. 

I.    How  the  people  died  after  the  famine 353 

II.   Of  the  honour  which  the  Cid  did  unto  the  Moors 353 

III.  How  the  Cid  spake  unto  the  Moors 353 

IV.  What  farther  the  Cid  said  unto  the  Moors 354 

V.    How  the  promises  of  the  Cid  proved  false,  and  how  he  de- 
manded that  Abeniaf  should  be  delivered  into  his  hands. .  355 

VI.    How  the  Moors  asked  council  of  Abdalla  Adiz,  and  how  they 

delivered  up  Abeniaf 356 

VII.    How  the  Cid  said  that  he  would  dwell  in  the  Alcazar,  and 

how  he  took  possession  thereof 357 

VIII.    How  Abeniaf  was  tortured  to  make  him  give  account  of  his 

riches,  and  he  gave  a  false  account,  and  was  stoned 359 

IX.   Of  the  speech  which  the  Cid  made  unto  the  Moors,  telling 

them  that  he  would  have  the  city  to  himself 360 

X.    How  the  King  of  Seville  came  against  Valencia,  and  was 

defeated  361 

XI.    How  the  Cid  numbered  his  people 3&2 

XII.    How  there  came  a  Bishop  to  Valencia,  and  the  (id  made  the 

city  a  bishopric  for  him 3*>2 


216 


CONTENTS. 


SECT.  PAGE 

XIII.  How  the  Cid  sent  for  his  wife  and  daughters 363 

XIV.  How  these  messengers  came  to   the  King,  and  of  the  great 

favour  which  was  shown  them 363 

XV.    How  they  came  to  Burgos,  and  how  Dofia  Ximena  and  her 

daughters  left  the  monastery  to  go  with  them  to  Valencia,  365 

XVI.    How  Dofia  Ximena  and  her  daughters  came  to  Valencia  ....  366 
XVII.    How  tidings  came  that  the  Miramamolin  was  coming  against 

Valencia 369 

XVIII.    How  the  Cid  took  his  wife  and  daughters  upon  the  tower, 

that  they  might  see  the  Moors  land 369 

XIX.  Of  the  council  which  was  taken,  after  what  manner  they  should 

attack  the  Moors 371 

XX.    Of  the  great  victory  which  the  Cid  won  over  King  Vucef  ....  371 
XXI.    How  the  Cid  entered  the  city,  and  how  he  gave  in  marriage 

the  damsels  of  his  wife  Dofia  Ximena 372 

XXII.   Of  the  great  spoil  which  was  found 373 

XXIII.  How  King  Yucef  died,  and  of  the  charge  he  gave  his  brother 

to  revenge  him 374 

XXIV.  Of  the  present  which  the  Cid  sent  unto  the  King 374 

XXV.    How  the   Infantes   of  Carrion   desired    to   marry   the   (id's 

daughters 375 

XXVI.    How  the  meeting  was  appointed  between  the  King  and  the 

Cid 376 

XXVII.    How  they  made  ready  for  the  meeting 377 

XXVIII.    Of  the  meeting 378 

XXIX.    How  the  King  asked  the  Cid  to  give  his  daughters  in  marriage 

to  the  Infantes 379 

XXX.    How  the  Cid  dispeeded  himself  of  the  King 380 

XXXI.    Of  the  conditions  of  the  Infantes 380 

XXXII.    How  Alvar  Fanez  gave  his  kinswomen  to  the  Infantes 381 

XXXIII.   Of  the  marriage 382 

BOOK   VIII. 

I.    How  King  Bucar  made  ready  to  revenge  his  brother   King 

Vucef 383 

II.    Of  the  cowardice  shown  by  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  when  the 

lion  brake  loose 383 

III.  How  the  Infantes  plotted  to  revenge  themselves  upon  the  Cid,  384 

IV.  How  the  Infantes  were  afraid  when  they  beheld  the  great 

power  of  the  Moors 385 

V.   Of  the  message  sent  by  King  Bucar  to  the  Cid 386 

VI.   Of  the  answer  of  the  Cid 387 

VII.    Of  the  order  of  the  Cid's  battle 387 

VIII.    How  the  Cid  defeated  King  Bucar  and  twenty-nine  kings  .  . .  388 

IX.   Of  the  great  spoil  which  was  won  by  the  Christians 390 

X.    How  the  Infantes  said  that  they  would  return  into  their  own 

country 391 

XI.    How  Dofia  Ximena  mistrusted  the  evil  purprse  of  the  Infantes,  392 

XII.   Of  the  parting  between  the  Cid  and  his  daughters 392 


CONTEXTS. 


217 


SECT.  PAGE 

XIII.  How  the  Infantes  would  have  slain  Abengalvon 393 

XIV.  Of  the  great  cruelty  which  the  Infantes  committed  upon  their 

wives 394 

X\  .    How  Felez  Munoz  found  these  dames  lying  in  the  forest 395 

XVI.    How  Pero  Sanchez  and  the  other  knights  defied  the  Infantes  .  396 

XVII.    How  those  knights  made  their  complaint  to  the  King 397 

XVIII.    How  Felez  Munoz  found  a  good  man  who  took  the  dames  to 

his  house 398 

XIX.    How  Diego  Tellez  took  these  dames  to  Santesteban 399 

XX.    How  Alvar  Fanez  demanded  justice  of  the  King  against  the 

Infantes    399 

XXI.    How  Alvar  Fanez  went  for  the  dames 401 

XXII.    How  Pero  Bermudez  returned  to  Valencia 402 

XXIII.    How  the  dames  returned  to  Valencia 403 

BOOK   IX. 

I.    How  the  Cid  departed  for  the  Cortes 404 

II.    How  the  Infantes  would  fain  have  been  held  excused 404 

III.  Of  the  meeting  between  the  Cid  and  the  King 405 

IV.  How  the  Cid  sent  his  ivory  seat  to  be  placed  in  the  palace    . . .  406 
V.   Of  the  strife  which  was  about  to  rise  concerning  the  ivory  seat,  406 

VI.    How  the  Cid  and  his  knights  apparelled  themselves  and  went 

to  the  Cortes 407 

VII.    How  the  King  bade  the  Cid  sit  on  ris  ivory  seat 408 

VIII.    How  the  King  appointed  Alcaldes  to  give  judgment  in  this  cause,  409 

IX.    How  the  Cid  demanded  back  Colada  and  Tizona    409 

X.    How  the  Cid  made  his  second  demand  against  the  Infantes    ..  411 

XI.    How  the  Cid  made  his  third  demand  against  the  Infantes   412 

XII.    How  the  Cid  defied  the  Infantes 4»4 

XIII.  How  Pero  Bermudez,  being  angered  by  the  Cid,  smote  down 

Count  Don  Garcia    4'5 

XIV.  How  the  King  said  that  he  would  give  sentence  in  this  matter,  416 
XV.    How  the  battle  was  appointed,  and  the  Cid  named  his  champions,  416 

XVI.    How  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and  Navarre  sent  to  ask   the 

daughters  of  the  Cid  in  marriage    -  41 7 

XVII.    How  the  Cid  committed  his  three  knights  to  the  King's  pro- 
tection        4'8 

XVIII.    ( )f  the  nobleness  with  which  the  Cid  distributed  his  treasure  . .  419 

XIX.    I  low  the  Cid  would  have  given  Bavieca  to  the  King    4'9 

XX.    Of  what  the  Cid  said  to  his  three  knights   42O 

BOOK  X. 

I.    How  the  King  went  to  Carrion •  •  421 

II.    How  the  Infantes  sent  to  desire  that  Colada  and  Tizona  might 

not  be  used  against  them 42 ' 

III.  How  they  entered  the  lists    •  •  •  422 

IV.  Of  the  combat  between  Pero  Bermudez  and  Ferrando  Gonzalez,  42 j 
V     Of  the  battle  between  Martin  Antolinez  and  Diego  Gonzalez  . .  423 

VI.    Of  the  battle  between  Mufio  Gustioz  and  Suero  Gonzale/ 424 

VII.   How  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  were  declared  traitors  .    424 


218 


CONTEXTS. 


SECT. 

VIII.    Of  the  great  joy  which  was  made  in  Valencia 425 

IX.  How  the  Soldan  of  Persia  sent  presents  to  the  Cid   426 

X.    Of  the  presents  which  the  Soldan  sent 427 

XI.    Of  what  passed  between  the  messenger  of  the  Soldan  and  the 

Cid    428 

XII.    Of  the  reason  why  the  Soldan  sent  this  great  present 428 

XIII.  Of  the  coming  of  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and  Navarre    4  50 

XIV.  Of  the  marriage  of  the  Infantes    430 

XV.    How  the  messenger  of  the  Soldan  was  despatched    432 

XVI.    How  the  Alcalde  of  Valencia  was  baptized 432 

BOOK   XI. 

I.    How  tidings  came  that  King  Bucar  was  coming  against  Va- 
lencia     

II.    How  St.  Peter  appeared  unto  the  Cid    

III.  How  the  Cid  spake  to  his  people  

IV.  How  the  Cid  took  to  his  bed    

V.    How  the  Cid  appointed  what  should  be  done  after  his  death 

VI.  How  the  Cid  made  his  testament  and  departed    

VII.  How  King  Bucar  came  up  against  the  City 

VIII.  How  the  Christians  went  out  from  Valencia 

IX.  How  King  Bucar  was  utterly  discomfited   

X.  How  the  Moors  went  into  the  city 

XI.  How  the  sons-in-law  of  the  Cid  came  to  meet  the  body   

XII.  How  King  Don  Alfonso  came  to  do  honour  to  the  Cid    

XIII.  How  the  body  of  the  Cid  was  placed  in  his  ivory  chair    

XIV.  How  the  company  brake  up  after  this  was  done    

XV.  Of  the  care  which  was  taken  of  Bavieca    

XVI.   Of  the  death  of  Dona  Ximena    

XVII.   Of  what  happened  to  a  Jew  who  would  have  taken  the  Cid 

by  the  beard     449 

XVIII.    How  the  body  of  the  Cid  was  interred    450 

XIX.   Of  the  death  of  ( iil  Diaz    450 

XX.    How  the  King  of  Navarre  restored  the  lx>oty  which  he  had 

taken  in  honour  to  the  Cid    45 1 

XXI.    How  the  Cid  went  to  the  great  battle  of  the  Xavas  de  Tolosa,      452 
XXII.    How  King  Don  Alfonso  the  Wise  removed  the  body  of  the 

Cid    453 

XXIII.  Of  the  second  removal  of  the  body,  and  how  it  was  resolved 

to  remove  it  again 453 

XXIV.  Of  the  ceremonies  before  the  lid  of  the  tomb  was  lifted    454 

XXV.    How  the  third  translation  was  performed   455 

XXVI.    Of  the  miraculous  rain  which  fell  during  this  translation    ....  457 
XXVII.   Of  the  letter  which  the  Emperor  issued  touching  this  transla- 
tion      458 

XXVIII.    How  the  tombs  were  translated  to   the  middle  of  the  great 

Chapel    459 

XXIX.    Of  the  state  of  those  tombs  at  the  present  time    460 

XXX.    Of  the  relics  of  the  Cid    -4<«) 

\XXI.    How  the  Cid  should  have  been  canonized    ...    j,(>2 


THE 

CHRONICLE  OF  THE  Cm. 

BOOK    I. 

I.  KING  DON  FERRANDO  succeeded  to  the  states  of  Castile 
after  the  death  of  his  father  King  Don  Sancho  el  Mayor,  in  the  era 
1072,  which  was  the  year  of  the  Incarnation  1034,  and  from  the 
coming  of  the  Patriarch  Tubal  to  settle  in  Spain  3197,  and  from 
the  general  deluge  3339,  and  from  the  creation  of  the  world  4995, 
according  to  the  computation  of  the  Hebrews,  and  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  false  sect  of  the  Moors  413.  And  in  the  year  1037 
Ferrando  slew  Bermudo  the  King  of  Leon  in  battle,  who  was  his 
wife's  brother,  and  conquered  his  kingdom,  and  succeeded  to  it  in 
right  of  his  wife  Dona  Sancha.  So  he  was  the  first  person  who 
united  the  states  of  Castile  and  Leon,  and  the  first  who  was  called 
King  of  Castile  ;  for  till  this  time  the  lords  of  that  country  had 
been  called  Counts.  He  was  a  good  king,  and  one  who  judged 
justly  and  feared  God,  and  was  bold  in  all  his  doings.  Before  he 
reigned  he  had  by  Dona  Sancha  his  wife  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca, 
his  eldest  daughter,  who  was  a  right  excellent  lady,  of  good  cus- 
toms and  bounty  and  beauty  ;  and  after  her  he  had  the  Infante  Don 
Sancho,  his  eldest  son  and  heir  ;  and  then  the  Infanta  Dona  Elvira, 
whom  after  the  death  of  the  King  her  father,  her  brother  King 
Don  Alfonso  married  to  the  Count  Don  Garri  de  Cabra.  And 
after  he  became  King  he  had  the  Infante  Don  Alfonso,  and  the 
Infante  Don  Garcia,  who  was  the  youngest  of  all.  And  he  put  his 
sons  to  read,  that  they  might  be  of  the  better  understanding,  and 
he  made  them  take  arms,  and  be  shown  how  to  demean  them- 
selves in  battle  and  to  be  huntsmen.  And  he  ordered  that  his 
daughters  should  be  brought  up  in  the  studies  beseeming  dames, 
so  that  they  might  be  of  good  customs,  and  instructed  in  devotion 
and  in  all  things  which  it  behoved  them  to  know. 


220  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CTD, 

II.  In  those  days  arose  Rodrigo  of  Bivar,  who  was  a  youth  strong 
in  arms  and  of  good  customs ;  and  the  people  rejoiced  in  him,  for 
he  bestirred  himself  to  protect  the  land  from  the  Moors.     Now  it 
behoves  that  ye  should  know  whence  he  came,  and  from  what  men 
he  was  descended,  because  we  have  to  proceed  with  his  history. 
Ye  are  to  know  therefore,  that  after  the  treason  which  King  Don 
OrdDfij  the  Second  committed  upon  the  Counts  of  Castile,  that 
country  remained  without  a  chief:  the  people  therefore  chose  two 
judges,  of  whom  the  one  was  called  Nuno  Rasuera,  and  the  other 
L:iyn  Calvo,  who  married  Nuno's  daughter,  Elvira  Nunez.     From 
Nuno  Rasuera  King  Don    Ferrando   descended,  and  from  Layn 
Calvo,  Diego  Laynez,  who  took  to  wife  Dona  Teresa  Rodriguez, 
the  daughter  of  Don  Rodrigo  Alvarez,  Count  and  Governor  of 
Asturias,  and  had  by  her  this  Rodrigo.     In  the  year  of  the  Incar- 
nation 1026  was  Rodrigo  bom,  of  this  noble  lineage,  in  the  city  of 
Burgos,  and  in  the  street  of  St.  Martin,  hard  by  the  palace  of  the 
Counts  of  Castile,  where  Diego  Laynez  had  his  dwelling.     In  the 
church  of  St.  Martin  was  he  baptized,  a  good  priest  of  Burgos, 
whose  name  was  Don  Pedro  de  Pernegas,  being  his  godfather : 
and  to  this  church  Rodrigo  was  always  greatly  affectionate,  and  he 
built  the  belfry  tower  thereof. 

III.  At  this  time  it  came  to  pass  that  there  was  strife  between 
Count  Don  Gomez  the  Lord  of  Gormaz,  and  Diego  Laynez  the 
father  of  Rodrigo ;  and  the  Count  insulted  Diego  and  gave  him 
a  blow.     Now  Diego  was  a  man  in  years,  and  his  strength  had 
passed  from  him,  so  that  he  could  not  take  vengeance,  and  he 
retired  to  his  home  to  dwell  there  in  solitude  and  lament  over  his 
dishonour.     And  he  took  no  pleasure  in  his  food,  neither  could 
he  sleep  by  night,  nor  would  he  lift  up  his  eyes  from  the  ground, 
nor  stir  out  of  his  house,  nor  commune  with  his  friends,  but  turned 
from  them  in  silence  as   if  the  breath  of  his  shame  would  taint 
them.     Rodrigo  was  yet  but  a  youth,   and  the  Count  was  a  mighty 
man  in  arms,  one  who  gave  his  voice  first  in  the  Cortes,  and  he 
was  held  to  be  the  best  in  the  war,  and  so  powerful  that  he  had  a 
thousand  friends  among  the  mountains.     Howbeit  all  these  things 
appeared  as  nothing  to   Rodrigo  when  he  thought  of  the  wrong 
done  to  his  father,  the  first  which   had  ever  been  offered  to  the 
blood  of  Layn  Calvo.     He  asked  nothing  but  justice  of  Heaven, 
.uid  of  man  he  asked  only  a  fair  field ;  and  his  father  seeing  of 
how  good  heart  he  was,  gave  him  his  sword  and  his  blessing.    The 
sword  had  been  the  sword  of  Mudarra  in  former  times,  and  \\lu-n 
Rodrigo  held  its  cross  in  his  hand,  he  thought  within  himself  that 


KODKIGO  DIAZ  DF.    RIVAR.  221 

his  arm  was  not  weaker  than  Mudarra's.  And  he  went  out  and 
defied  the  Count  and  slew  him,  and  smote  off  his  head  and  carried 
it  home  to  his  father.  The  old  man  was  sitting  at  table,  the  food 
lying  before  him  untasted,  when  Rodrigo  returned,  and  pointing 
to  the  head  which  hung  from  the  horse's  collar,  dropping  blood,  he 
bade  him  look  up,  for  there  was  the  herb  which  should  restore  to 
him  his  appetite.  The  tongue,  quoth  he,  which  insulted  you,  is  no 
longer  a  tongue,  and  the  hand  which  wronged  you  is  no  longer 
a  hand.  And  the  old  man  arose  and  embraced  his  son  and  placed 
him  above  him  at  the  table,  saying,  that  he  who  had  brought  home 
that  head  should  be  the  head  of  the  house  of  Layn  Calvo. 

IV.  After  this  Diego  being  full  of  years  fell  asleep  and  was  gath- 
ered to  his  fathers.     And  the  Moors  entered  Castile,  in  great  power, 
for  there  came  with  them  five  Kings,  and  they  passed  above  Burgos, 
and  crossed  the  mountains  of  Oca,  and  plundered  Carrion,  and  Vil- 
forado,  and  Saint  Domingo  de  la  Calzada,  and  Logrono,  and  Na- 
jara,  and  all  that  land ;  and  they  carried  away  many  captives  both 
male  and  female,  and  brood  mares,  and  flocks  of  all  kinds.     But 
as  they  were  returning  with  all  speed,  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  raised  the 
country,  and  came  up  with  them  in  the  mountains  of  Oca,  and  fell 
upon  them  and  discomfited  them,  and  won  back  all  their  booty, 
and  took  all  the  five  Kings  prisoners.     Then  he  went  back  to  his 
mother,  taking  the  Kings  with  him,  and  there  he  divided  the  whole 
spoil  with  the  hidalgos  and  his  other  companions,  both  the  Moor- 
ish captives  and  all  the  spoil  of  whatever  kind,  so  that  they  departed 
right  joyfully,  being  well  pleased  with  what  he  had  done.     And  he 
gave  thanks  to  God  for  the  grace  which  had  been  vouchsafed  to 
him,  and  said  to  his  mother,  that  he  did  not  think  it  good  to  keep 
the  Kings  in  captivity,  but  to  let  them  go  freely ;  and  he  set  them 
at  liberty  and  bade  them  depart.     So  they  returned  each  to  his  own 
country,  blessing  him  for  their  deliverance,  and  magnifying  his 
great  bounty ;  and  forthwith  they  sent  him  tribute  and  acknowl- 
edged themselves  to  be  his  vassals. 

V.  King  Don  Ferrando  was  going  through  Leon,  putting  the 
Kingdom  in  order,  when  tidings  reached  him  of  the  good  speed 
which  Rodrigo  had  had  against  the  Moors.     And  at  the  same  time 
there  came  before  him  Ximena  Gomez,  the  daughter  of  the  Count, 
who  fell  on  her  knees  before  him  and  said,  Sir,  I  am  the  daughter 
of  Count  Don  Gomez  of  Gormaz,  and  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  has  slain 
the  Count  my  father,  and  of  three  daughters  whom  he  has  left  I  am 
the  youngest.     And,  Sir,  I  come  to  crave  of  you  a  boon,  that  you 
will  give  me  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  to  be  my  husband,  with  whom  I 


222  CI1KOMCI.E    Or   Till:    CfD, 

shall  hold  myself  well  married,  and  greatly  honoured  ;  for  certain 
I  am  that  his  possessions  will  one  day  be  greater  than  those  of  any 
man  in  your  dominions.  Certes,  Sir.  it  behoves  you  to  do  this, 
because  it  is  for  God's  service,  and  because  I  may  pardon  Rodrigo 
with  a  good  will.  The  King  held  it  good  to  accomplish  her  desire  ; 
and  forthwith  ordered  letters  to  be  drawn  up  to  Rodrigo  of  Bivar, 
wherein  he  enjoined  and  commanded  him  that  he  should  come  in- 
continently to  Palencia,  for  he  had  much  to  communicate  to  him. 
upon  an  affair  which  was  greatly  to  God's  service,  and  his  own 
welfare  and  great  honour. 

VI.  When   Rodrigo  saw  the  letters  of  his  Lord  the   King  he 
greatly  rejoiced  in  them,  and  said  to  the  messengers  that  he  would 
fulfil  the  King's  pleasure,  and  go  incontinently  at  his  command. 
And  he  dight  himself  full  gallantly  and  well,  and  took  with  him 
many  knights,  both  his  own  and  of  his  kindred  and  of  his  friends, 
and  he  took  also  many  new  arms,  and  came  to  Palencia  to  the 
King  with  two  hundred  of  his  peers  in  arms,  in  festival  guise  ;  and 
the  King  went  out  to  meet  him,  and  received  him  right  well,  and 
did  him  honour  ;  and  at  this  were  all  the  Counts  displeased.     And 
when  the  King  thought  it  a  fit  season,  he  spake  to  him  and  said, 
that  Dona  Ximena  Gomez,  the  daughter  of  the  Count  whom  he  had 
slain,  had  come  to  ask  him  for  her  husband  ;  and  would  forgive 
him  her  father's  death  ;  wherefore  he  besought  him  to  think  it  good 
to  take  her  to  be  his  wife,  in  which  case  he  would  show  him  great 
favour.     When  Rodrigo  heard  this  it  pleased  him  well,  and  he  said 
to  the  King  that  he  would  do  his  bidding  in  this,  and  in  all  other 
things  which  he  might  command ;    and  the  King  thanked   him 
much.     And  he  sent  for  the  Bishop  of  Palencia,  and  took  their  vows 
and  made  them  plight  themselves  each  to  the  other  according  as 
the  law  directs.     And  when  they  were  espoused  the  King  did  them 
great  honour,  and  gave  them  many  noble  gifts,  and  added  to  Rod- 
rigo's  lands  more  than  he  had  till  then  possessed :  and  he  loved 
him  greatly  in  his  heart,  because  he  saw  that  he  was  obedient  to 
his  commands,  and  for  all  that  he  had  heard  him  say. 

VII.  So  Rodrigo  departed  from  the  King,  and  took  his  spouse 
with  him  to  the  house  of  his  mother,  and  gave  her  to  his  mother's 
keeping.     And  forthwith  he  made  a  vow  in  her  hands  that  he 
would  never  accompany  with  her,  neither  in  the  desert  nor  in  the 
inhabited  place,  till  he  had  won  five  battles  in  the  field.     And  he 
besought  his  mother  that  she  would  love  her  even  as  she  loved 
himself,  and  that  she  would  do  good  to  her  and  show  her  great 
honour,  for  which  he  should  ever  serve  her  with  the  better  good 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DF.    BIVAR.  223 

will.     And  his  mother  promised  him  so  to  do ;  and  then  he  de- 
parted from  them  and  went  out  against  the  frontier  of  the  Moors. 

VIII.  Now  the  history  relates  that  King  Don   Ferrando  con- 
tended with  King  Don  Ramiro  of  Arragon  for  the  city  of  Cala- 
horra,  which  each  claimed  as  his  own  ;  in  such  guise  that  the  King 
of  Arragon  placed  it  upon  the  trial  by  combat,  confiding  in  the 
prowess  of  Don  Martin  Gonzalez,  who  was  at  that  time  held  to  be 
the  best  knight  in  all  Spain.     King  Don  Ferrando  accepted  the 
challenge,  and  said  that  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  should  do  battle  on  his 
part,  but  that  he  was  not  then  present.    And  they  plighted  homage 
on  both  parts  to  meet  and  bring  each  his  knight,  and  the  knight 
who  conquered  should  win  Calahorra  for  his  Lord.     Having  rati- 
fied this  engagement,  they  returned  into  their  own  lands.      And 
immediately  Ferrando  sent  for  Rodrigo  of  Bivar,  and  told  him  all 
the  matter  as  it  then  stood,  and  that  he  was  to  do  battle.     Well 
pleased  was  Rodrigo  when  he  heard  this,  and  he  accorded  to  all 
that  the  King  had  said  that  he  should  do  battle  for  him  upon  that 
cause ;    but  till  the  day  arrived  he  must  needs,  he  said,  go  to 
Compostella,  because  he  had  vowed  a  pilgrimage ;  and  the  King 
was  content  therewith,  and  gave  him  great  gifts. 

IX.  Rodrigo  forthwith  set  out  upon  the  road,  and  took  with 
him  twenty  knights.     And  as  he  went  he  did  great  good,  and  gave 
alms,  feeding  the  poor  and  needy.     And  upon  the  way  they  found 
a  leper  struggling  in  a  quagmire,  who  cried  out  to  them  with  a 
loud  voice  to  help  him  for  the  love  of  God ;  and  when  Rodrigo 
heard  this,  he  alighted  from  his  be'ast  and  helped  him,  and  placed 
him  upon  the  beast  before  him,  and  carried  him  with  him  in  this 
manner-  to  the  inn  where  he  took  up  his  lodging  that  night.     At 
this  were  his  knights  little  pleased.     And  when  supper  was  ready 
he  bade  his  knights  take  their  seats,  and  he  took  the  leper  by  the 
hand,  and  seated  him  next  himself,  and  ate  with  him  out  of  the 
same  dish.     The  knights  were  greatly  offended  at  this  foul  sight, 
insomuch  that  they  rose  up  and  left  the  chamber.     But  Rodrigo 
ordered  a  bed  to  be  made  ready  for  himself  and  for  the  leper,  and 
they  twain  slept  together.      When  it  was  midnight  and  Rodrigo 
was  fast  asleep,  the  leper  breathed  against  him  between  his  shoul- 
ders, and  that  breath  was  so  strong  that  it  passed  through  him. 
even  through  his  breast ;  and  he  awoke,  being  astounded,  and  felt 
for  the  leper  by  him,  and  found  him  not ;  and  he  began  to  call 
him,  but  there  was  no  reply.     Then  he  arose  in  fear,  and  called 
for  light,  and  it  was  brought  him  ;  and  he  looked  for  the  leper  and 
could  see  nothing ;  so  he  returned  into  the  bed,  leaving  the  light 


22^  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    (7D, 

burning.  And  he  began  to  think  within  himself  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  of  that  breath  which  had  passed  through  him,  and  how 
the  leper  was  not  there.  After  awhile,  as  he  was  thus  musing, 
there  appeared  before  him  one  in  white  garments,  who  said  unto 
him,  Sleepest  thou  or  wakest  thou,  Rodrigo?  and  he  answered 
and  said,  I  do  not  sleep  :  but  who  art  thou  that  bringest  with  thee 
such  brightness  and  so  sweet  an  odour?  Then  said  he,  I  am  St. 
I^azarus,  and  know  that  I  was  the  leper  to  whom  thou  didst  so 
much  good  and  so  great  honour  for  the  love  of  God  ;  and  because 
thou  didst  this  for  his  sake  hath  God  now  granted  thee  a  great  gift ; 
for  whensoever  that  breath  which  thou  hast  felt  shall  come  upon 
thee,  whatever  thing  thou  desirest  to  do,  and  shalt  then  begin,  that 
shall  thou  accomplish  to  thy  heart's  desire,  whether  it  be  in  battle 
or  aught  else,  so  that  thy  honour  shall  go  on  increasing  from  day 
to  day  ;  and  thou  shalt  be  feared  both  by  Moors  and  Christians, 
and  thy  enemies  shall  never  prevail  against  thee,  and  thou  shalt 
die  an  honourable  death  in  thine  own  house,  and  in  thy  renown, 
for  God  hath  blessed  thee  ;  —  therefore  go  thou  on,  and  evermore 
persevere  in  doing  good ;  and  with  that  he  disappeared.  And 
Rodrigo  arose  and  prayed  to  our  lady  and  intercessor  St.  Mary, 
that  she  would  pray  to  her  blessed  son  for  him  to  watch  over  botli 
his  body  and  soul  in  all  his  undertakings ;  and  he  continued  in 
prayer  till  the  day  broke.  Then  he  proceeded  on  his  way,  and 
performed  his  pilgrimage,  doing  much  good  for  the  love  of  God 
and  of  St.  Mary. 

X.  Now  the  day  came  which  had  been  appointed  for  the  com- 
Ijat  concerning  Calahorra,  between  Rodrigo  and  Don  Martin 
( ionzalez,  and  Rodrigo  was  not  arrived  :  therefore  his  cousin  Alvar 
Fanez  Minaya  undertook  the  battle  in  his  stead,  and  ordered  his 
horse  to  be  harnessed  right  well.  While  he  was  arming  himself 
Rodrigo  came  up  and  took  the  horse  of  Alvar  Fanez,  and  entered 
the  lists;  Don  Martin  Gonzalez  did  the  same,  and  the  judges 
placed  them  fairly,  each  in  his  place,  so  that  neither  should  have 
the  sun  in  his  eyes.  They  ran  their  career,  one  against  the  other, 
and  met  so  fiercely  that  their  lances  brake,  and  both  were  sorely 
wounded ;  but  Don  Martin  began  to  address  Rodrigo,  thinking  to 
dismay  him.  Greatly  dost  thou  now  repent,  Don  Rodrigo,  said 
he,  that  thou  hast  entered  into  these  lists  with  me ;  for  I  shall  so 
handle  thee  that  never  shalt  thou  marry  Dona  Ximena  thy  spouse, 
whom  thou  lovest  so  well,  nor  ever  return  alive  to  Castile.  Rod- 
rigo waxed  angry  at  these  words,  and  he  replied,  You  are  a  good 
knight,  Don  Martin  Gonzalez,  but  these  words  are  not  suitable  to 


RODRTCO   DIAZ   DK    AY /'./A'.  225 

this  place,  for  an  this  business  we  have  to  contend  with  hands  and 
not  with  empty  speeches  ;  and  the  power  is  in  God  who  will  give 
the  honour  as  he  thinketh  best.  And  in  his  anger  he  made  at 
him,  and  smote  him  upon  his  helmet,  and  the  sword  cut  through 
and  wounded  as  much  of  the  head  as  it  could  reach,  so  that  he 
was  sorely  hurt  and  lost  much  blood.  And  Don  Martin  Gonzalez 
struck  at  Rodrigo,  and  the  sword  cut  into  the  shield,  and  he 
plucked  it  towards  him  that  with  main  force  he  made  Rodrigo 
lose  the  shield ;  but  Rodrigo  did  not  forget  himself,  and  wounded 
him  again  in  the  face.  And  they  both  became  greatly  enraged, 
and  cruel  against  each  other,  striking  without  mercy,  for  both  of 
them  were  men  who  knew  how  to  demean  themselves.  But  while 
they  thus  struggled  Don  Martin  Gonzalez  lost  much  blood,  and 
for  very  weakness  he  could  not  hold  himself  upon  his  horse,  but 
fell  from  his  horse  upon  the  ground ;  and  Rodrigo  alighted  and 
went  to  him  and  slew  him  :  and  when  he  had  slain  him  he  asked 
the  judges  if  there  was  anything  more  to  be  done  for  the  right  of 
Calahorra :  and  they  made  answer  that  there  was  not.  Then 
came  the  King  Don  Ferrando  to  him,  and  alighted  by  him,  and 
helped  to  disarm  him  and  embraced  him  much ;  and  when  he  was 
disarmed  he  went  with  him  from  the  field,  he  and  all  the  Castilians 
greatly  rejoicing ;  but  as  great  as  was  the  pleasure  of  King  Don 
Ferrando  and  his  people,  so  great  was  the  sorrow  of  King  Don 
Ramiro  of  Arragon  and  of  his.  And  he  ordered  them  to  take  up 
Don  Martin  Gonzalez,  and  they  carried  the  body  into  his  own  lands, 
and  he  went  with  it,  and  Calahorra  remained  in  the  power  of  King 
Don  Ferrando. 

XI.  But  when  the  Counts  of  Castile  saw  how  Rodrigo  increased 
day  by  day  in  honour,  they  took  counsel  together  that  they  should 
plot  with  the  Moors,  and  fix  a  day  of  battle  with  them  on  the  day 
of  the  Holy  Cross  in  May,  and  that  they  should  invite  Rodrigo  to 
this  battle,  and  contrive  with  the  Moors  that  they  should  slay  him  ; 
by  which  means  they  should  be  revenged  upon  him,  and  remain 
masters  of  Castile,  which  now  because  of  him  they  could  not  be. 
This  counsel  they  sent  to  communicate  to  the  Moors  and  to  the 
Moorish  Kings  who  were  Rodrigo's  vassals,  being  those  whom  he 
had  made  prisoners  and  set  at  liberty.  But  they,  when  they  saw 
this  counsel  and  the  falsehood  which  was  devised,  took  the  letters 
of  the  Counts,  and  sent  them  to  Rodrigo  their  Lord,  and  sent  to 
tell  him  all  the  secret  of  the  treason.  And  Rodrigo  thanked  them 
greatly  for  their  good  faith,  and  took  the  letters  and  carried  to  the 
King,  and  showed  him  all  the  enmity  of  the  Counts,  and  especially 


226  CHRONICLE   OF   THE    CfD, 

of  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  who  was  afterwards  called  of  Cabra. 
\Vhen  the  King  saw  this  as  it  was,  he  was  astonished  at  their  great 
falsehood,  and  he  issued  his  letters  in  which  he  ordered  them  to 
leave  his  dominions ;  then  he  went  to  Santiago  on  a  pilgrimage, 
and  ordered  Rodrigo  to  cast  these  Counts  out  of  the  land  ;  and 
Rodrigo  did  as  the  King  commanded  him.  Then  Dona  Elvira 
his  kinswoman,  the  wife  of  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  came  and  fell 
on  her  knees  before  him  ;  but  Rodrigo  took  her  by  the  hand  and 
raised  her  up,  and  would  not  hear  her  till  she  was  arisen.  And 
when  he  had  raised  her  up  she  said,  I  beseech  you,  Cousin,  since 
you  have  banished  me  and  my  husband,  that  you  would  give  us  a 
letter  to  some  King  who  is  one  of  your  vassals,  enjoining  him  to 
befriend  us,  and  give  us  something  for  your  sake  whereon  we  may 
live.  So  he  gave  her  a  letter  to  the  King  of  Cordova,  who  received 
her  and  her  husband  well  for  the  love  of  Rodrigo,  and  gave  Cabra 
to  him,  that  he  and  his  people  might  dwell  therein.  This  Count 
was  afterwards  so  ungrateful  to  the  King  of  Cordova  that  he  made 
war  upon  him  from  Cabra  which  the  King  had  given  him,  till  Rod- 
rigo came  and  took  it. 

XII.  The  history  relateth  that  at  this  time  while  the  King  was 
in  Galicia,  the  Moors  entered  Estremadura,  and  the  people  called 
upon  Rodrigo  of  Bivar  to  help  them.     And  when  he  heard  the 
summons  he  made  no  delay,  but  gathered  together  his  kinsmen 
and  his  friends,  and  went  against  the  misbelievers.     And  he  came 
up  with  them  between  Atienza  and  San  Estevan  de  Gormaz,  as 
they  were  carrying  away  a  great  booty  in  captives  and  in  flocks, 
and  there  he  had  a  brave  battle  with  them  in  the  field  ;  and  in  fine 
Rodrigo  conquered,  smiting,  and  slaying,  and  the  pursuit  lasted 
for  seven  leagues,  and  he  recovered  all  the  spoil,  which  was  so 
great  that  two  hundred  horses  were  the  fifth,  for  the  whole  spoil 
was  worth  a  hundred  times  a  thousand  maravedis.     Rodrigo  di- 
vided the  whole  among  his  people  without  covetousness,  and  re- 
turned with  great  honour. 

XIII.  Now  the  greater  part  of  these  Moors  had  been  they  of 
Merida,  Badajoz,  Beja,  and  Evora,  and  the  King  was  minded  to 
requite  them  in  their  own  land  according  to  their  deeds ;  and  he 
entered  into  the  heart  of  their  country,  carrying  with  him  fire  and 
sword,  and  pressed  them  sorely  so  that  they  yielded  vassalage. 
Then  turning  through  Portugal,  he  won  the  town  of  Sea,  which 
was  upon  the  western  slope  of  the  Serra  da  Estrella  ;  and  also  an- 
other town  called  Gamne,  the  site  whereof  cannot  now  be  known, 
for  in  course  of  years  names  change  and  are  forgotten.     And  pro- 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE   BTVAR.  227 

ceeding  with  his  conquests  he  laid  siege  to  the  City  of  Viseu,  thai 
he  might  take  vengeance  for  the  death  of  King  Don  Alfonso,  his 
wife's  father,  who  had  been  slain  before  that  city.  But  the  peo- 
ple of  Viseu,  as  they  lived  with  this  fear  before  their  eyes,  had  for- 
tified their  city  well,  and  stored  it  abundantly  with  all  things  need- 
ful, and  moreover,  they  put  their  trust  in  their  Alcayde,  who  was 
an  African,  by  name  Cid  Alafum,  a  man  tried  in  arms.  He  en- 
couraged them,  saying  that  the  city  could  not  be  taken  in  ten 
years,  by  a  greater  power  than  the  Christians ;  and  there  were 
many  good  arbalisters  in  the  city,  who  shot  so  strong  that  neither 
shield  nor  armour  availed  against  their  quarrels.  King  Don  Fer- 
rando  therefore  ordered  mantles  to  be  made,  and  also  pavaises  to 
protect  his  people;  and  moreover  he  enjoined  them  to  fasten 
boards  upon  their  shields,  so  that  the  quarrels  from  the  cross-bows 
might  not  pierce  through.  And  he  continued  for  eighteen  days  to 
combat  the  city,  keeping  such  good  watch,  that  neither  could  they 
within  receive  help  from  without,  nor  themselves  issue  forth  ;  and 
on  the  eighteenth  day,  which  was  the  Vesper  of  St.  Peter's,  he  won 
the  city  by  force  of  arms ;  and  few  were  they  who  escaped  from 
the  sword  of  the  conquerors,  except  those  who  retreated  with  Ala- 
fum into  the  Castle.  And  on  the  following  day  at  the  hour  of 
tierce  they  also  came  to  terms,  and  yielded  themselves  to  his 
mercy,  saving  their  lives.  In  this  manner  was  Viseu  recovered  by 
the  Christians,  and  never  after  did  that  city  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  barbarians.  And  the  Moor  who  had  slain  King  Don1  Alfonso 
fell  into  Ferrando's  power,  and'  the  King  took  vengeance  and 
punished  him  in  all  the  parts  which  had  offended ;  he  cut  off  the 
foot  which  had  pressed  down  the2  Armatost,  and  lopped  off  the 
hands  which  had  held  the  bow  and  fitted  the  quarrel,  and  plucked 
out  the  eyes  which  had  taken  the  mark  ;  and  the  living  trunk  was 
then  set  up  as  a  butt  for  the  archers. 

XIV.  In  all  these  wars  there  was  not  a  man  who  bore  greater 
part,  or  did  better  feats  in  arms,  than  Rodrigo  of  Bivar.  And  the 
King  went  up  against  Lamego,  and  besieged  it.  Now  Zadan  Aben 

1  Alfonso  V.  having  laid  siege  to  Viseu,  he  rode  out  one  day  to  reconnoitre, 
with  nothing  on  but  his  shirt  and  his  cloak  on  account  of  the  heat.  This 
Moor  took  aim  at  him,  and  though  he  was  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
walls,  shot  him  between  the  shoulders,  —  being,  says  Morales,  the  first  and 
last  of  our  Kings  who  died  in  war  against  the  Moors.  He  was  slain  in  the 
year  1027. 

"  The  Armatoste  was  an  instrument  used  for  charging  the  cross-bow  at  this 
time,  as  they  were  not  made  of  steel,  says  Brito.  According  to  this  author  the 
foot  was  used  to  press  the  bow  down. 


328  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CfD, 

Huim,  son  of  Huim  Alboazem,  the  King  thereof,  was  mightier  than 
all  the  Kings  who  had  reigned  before  him  in  Lamego,  and  he  had 
peopled  many  places  from  the  Douro  even  to  the  rivers  Tavora  and 
Vouga.  And  because  he  was  well  beloved  and  his  city  well  stored 
and  strong,  all  the  chief  Moors  in  that  district  being  dismayed  by 
the  fall  of  Viseu,  retired  into  it,  to  be  under  his  protection.  But 
maugre  all  their  power,  King  Don  Ferrando  girt  the  city  round  about, 
and  brought  against  it  so  many  engines,  and  so  many  bastilles,  that 
Zadan  submitted,  and  opened  his  gates  on  the  twenty-second  of 
July,  the  day  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene,  being  twenty-five  days  after 
the  capture  of  Viseu.  And  Zadan  became  tributary  to  the  King, 
and  the  King  took  with  him  many  of  the  Moors,  to  be  employed 
in  building  up  the  churches  which  had  fallen  to  ruin  since  the  land 
was  lost. 

XV.  All  this  while  was  Coimbra  in  the  power  of  the  misbelievers. 
And  the  Abbot  of  Lorvam  took  counsel  with  his  Monks,  and  they 
said,  Let  us  go  to  King  Ferrando  and  tell  him  the  state  of  the  city. 
And  they  chose  out  two  of  the  brethren  for  this  errand.  When  the 
Moors  therefore  who  came  to  hunt  among  the  mountains  took  up 
their  lodging  in  the  Monastery  as  they  were  wont  to  do,  these  twain 
said  unto  them,  We  would  go  to  the  holy  Dominicum,  to  say  prayers 
there  for  our  sins.  So  feigning  this  to  be  their  errand  they  set  forth, 
and  came  to  the  King  in  the  town  of  Carrion,  and  spake  unto  him 
in  council,  saying,  Sir  King,  we  come  to  you  through  waters  and 
over  mountains  and  by  bad  ways,  to  tell  you  concerning  Coimbra 
in  what  plight  it  is,  if  you  desire  to  know,  and  in  what  guise  the 
Moors  dwell  therein,  what  they  are  and  how  many,  and  with  how- 
little  heed  they  keep  the  city.  And  he  said  unto  them,  I  beseech 
you,  for  the  love  of  God,  say  on.  Then  told  they  him  what  they 
knew :  and  the  King  took  counsel  upon  this  matter  with  Rodrigo 
of  Bivar,  and  Rodrigo  said,  that  certes  the  Lord  would  help  him 
to  win  the  city  ;  and  he  said  that  he  would  fain  be  knighted  by  the 
King's  hand,  and  that  it  seemed  to  him  now  that  he  should  receive 
knighthood  at  his  hand  in  Coimbra.  A  covenant  was  then  made 
with  the  two  monks  that  they  should  go  with  the  army  against  the 
city  in  the  month  of  January  without  fail.  Now  this  was  in  Octo- 
ber. Incontinently  the  King  sent  to  summon  his  Knights  and  peo- 
ple, and  when  one  part  of  them  had  assembled  at  Santa  Maria,  he 
bade  them  do  all  the  damage  they  could  against  Coimbra,  and  rav- 
age the  country,  which  accordingly  they  did.  In-  the  meantime  the 
King  made  a  pilgrimage  to  Santiago,  as  Rodrigo  had  exhorted  him 
to  do ;  and  he  remained  there  three  days  and  nights  in  prayer, 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  229 

offering  great  gifts,  and  taking  upon  himself  great  devotion,  that  it 
might  please  God  to  fulfil  his  desire.  And  with  the  help  of  San- 
tiago he  gathered  together  a  great  host,  and  went  up  against  Coim- 
bra  in  the  month  of  January,  even  as  he  had  covenanted,  and 
laid  siege  to  it.  And  he  fought  against  the  city  all  February,  and 
March,  and  April,  May  and  June,  five  months  did  he  fight,  and 
could  not  prevail  against  it.  And  when  July  came  the  food  of  the 
besiegers  failed  them,  insomuch  that  they  had  only  the  dole  for  a 
few  days  left :  then  the  baggage  was  made  ready,  and  the  sumpter- 
beasts  and  serving- men  were  ordered  to  depart  for  Leon,  and  proc- 
lamation was  made  in  the  camp  that  the  army  should  remain  yet 
four  days,  and  on  the  fifth  they  might  break  up  and  depart  every 
one  to  his  own  house.  But  then  the  Monks  of  Lorvam  and  the 
Abbot  consulted  together  and  said,  Let  us  now  go  to  the  King  and 
give  him  all  the  food  which  we  have,  both  oxen  and  cows,  and 
sheep  and  goats  and  swine,  wheat  and  barley  and  maize,  bread 
and  wine,  fish  and  fowl,  even  all  that  we  have  ;  for  if  the  city, 
which  God  forbid,  should  not  be  won  by  the  Christians,  we  may  no 
longer  abide  here.  Then  went  they  to  the  King  and  gave  him  all 
their  stores,  both  of  flocks  and  herds,  and  pulse,  and  wine  beyond 
measure,  which  they  had  for  a  long  time  stored.  Then  was  there 
abundance  in  the  camp  ;  but  they  who  were  within  the  city  waxed 
feeble  for  hunger  and  long  suffering,  because  the  Christians  beset 
them  on  all  sides,  and  warred  upon  them  hotly,  and  brought  their 
engines  to  bear  on  every  part,  and  the  walls  of  the  city  were  broken 
down.  When  the  Moors  saw  this  they  came  to  the  King,  and  fell 
at  his  feet,  and  besought  him  of  his  mercy  that  he  would  let  them 
depart,  leaving  to  him  the  city  and  all  that  they  had  therein,  for 
they  asked  for  nothing  but  their  lives.  And  the  King  had  compas- 
sion upon  them  and  granted  their  prayer ;  and  the  city  was  yielded 
to  him  him  on  a  Sunday  at  the  hour  of  tierce,  which  was  before  a 
week  had  run  out  since  the  Monks  of  Lorvam  had  succoured  the 
host. 

XVI.  Now  it  came  to  pass  that  while  the  King  lay  before  Coim- 
bra,  there  came  a  pilgrim  from  the  land  of  Greece  on  pilgrimage 
to  Santiago  ;  his  name  was  Estiano,  and  he  was  a  Bishop.  And  as 
he  was  praying  in  the  church  he  heard  certain  of  the  townsmen 
and  of  the  pilgrims  saying  that  Santiago  was  wont  to  appear  in 
battle  like  a  knight,  in  aid  of  the  Christians.  And  when  he  heard 
this  it  nothing  pleased  him,  and  he  said  unto  them,  Friends,  call 
him  not  a  knight,  but  rather  a  fisherman.  Upon  this  it  pleased 
God  that  he  should  fall  asleep,  and  in  his  sleep  Santiago  appeared 


230  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

to  him  with  a  good  and  cheerful  countenance,  holding  in  his  hand 
a  bunch  of  keys,  and  said  unto  him,  Thou  thinkest  it  a  fable  that 
they  should  call  me  a  knight,  and  sayest  that  I  am  not  so  :  for  this 
reason  am  I  come  unto  thee  that  thou  never  more  mayest  doubt 
concerning  my  knighthood  ;  for  a  knight  of  Jesus  Christ  I  am,  and 
a  helper  of  the  Christians  against  the  Moors.  While  lie  \v;is  thus 
saying,  a  horse  was  brought  him  the  which  was  exceeding  white, 
and  the  Apostle  Santiago  mounted  upon  it,  being  well  clad  in  bright 
and  fair  armour,  after  the  manner  of  a  knight.  And  he  said  to 
Estiano,  I  go  to  help  King  Don  Ferrand  who  has  lain  these  seven 
months  before  Coimbra,  and  to-morrow,  with  these  keys  which 
thou  seest,  will  I  open  the  gates  of  the  city  unto  him  at  the  hour 
of  tierce,  and  deliver  it  into  his  hand.  Having  said  this  he  de- 
parted. And  the  Bishop  when  he  awoke  in  the  morning  called 
together  the  clergy  and  people  of  Compostella,  and  told  them  what 
he  had  seen  and  heard.  And  as  he  said,  even  so  did  it  come  to 
pass ;  for  tidings  came  that  on  that  day  and  at  the  hour  of  tierce, 
the  gates  of  the  city  had  been  opened. 

XVII.  King  Don  Ferrando  then  assembled  his  Counts  and  chief 
captains,  and  told  them  all  that  the  Monks  of  Lorvam  had  done, 
in  bringing  him  to  besiege  the  city,  and  in  supplying  his  army  in 
their  time  of  need  :  and  the  Counts  and  chief  captains  made 
answer  and  said,  Certes,  O  King,  if  the  Monks  had  not  given  us 
the  stores  of  their  Monastery,  thou  couldest  not  have  taken  the 
city  at  this  time.  The  King  then  called  for  the  Abbot  and  the 
brethren,  for  they  were  with  him  in  the  host,  and  said  the  hours 
to  him  daily,  and  mass  in  St.  Andre's,  and  buried  there  and  in 
their  Monastery  as  many  as  had  died  during  the  siege,  either  of 
arrow-wounds  or  by  lances,  or  of  their  own  infirmities.  So  they 
came  before  him  and  gave  him  joy  of  his  conquest ;  and  he  said 
unto  them,  Take  ye  now  of  this  city  as  much  as  ye  desire,  since  by 
God's  favour  and  your  counsel  I  have  won  it.  But  they  made 
answer,  Thanks  be  to  God  and  to  you,  and  to  your  forefathers,  we 
have  enough  and  shall  have,  if  so  be  that  we  have  your  favour  and 
dwell  among  Christians.  Only  for  the  love  of  God,  and  for  the 
remedy  of  your  own  soul,  give  us  one  church  with  its  dwelling 
houses  within  the  city,  and  confirm  unto  us  the  gifts  made  to  us  in 
old  times  by  your  forefathers,  and  the  good  men  to  whom  (i<><l 
give  a  happy  rest.  With  that  the  King  turned  to  his  sons  and  his 
soldiers,  and  said,  Of  a  truth,  by  our  Creator,  these  who  desire  so 
little  are  men  of  God.  I  would  have  given  them  half  the  city,  and 
they  will  have  only  a  single  church  !  Now  therefore,  since  they 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  231 

require  but  this,  on  the  part  of  God  Almighty  let  us  grant  and 
confirm  unto  them  what  they  ask,  to  the  honour  of  God  and  Stl 
Mamede.  And  the  brethren  brought  him  their  charters  of  King 
Ramiro,  and  King  Bermudo,  and  King  Alfonso,  and  of  Gonzalo 
Moniz,  who  was  a  knight  and  married  a  daughter  of  King  Ber- 
mudo, and  of  other  good  men.  And  the  King  confirmed  them, 
and  he  bade  them  make  a  writing  of  all  which  had  passed  between 
him  and  them  at  the  siege  of  Coimbra ;  and  when  they  brought 
him  the  writing,  they  brought  him  also  a  crown  of  silver  and  of 
gold,  which  had  been  King  Bermudo's,  and  which  Gonzalo  Moniz 
had  given  to  the  Monastery  in  honour  of  God  and  St.  Mamede. 
The  King  saw  the  crown,  how  it  was  set  with  precious  stones,  and 
said  to  them,  To  what  end  bring  ye  hither  this  crown  ?  And  they 
said,  That  you  should  take  it,  Sire,  in  return  for  the  good  which 
you  have  done  us.  But  he  answered,  Far  be  it  from  me  that  I 
should  take  from  your  Monastery  what  the  good  men  before  me 
have  given  to  it !  Take  ye  back  the  crown,  and  take  also  ten 
marks  of  silver,  and  make  with  the  money  a  good  cross,  to  remain 
with  you  for  ever.  And  he  who  shall  befriend  you,  may  God  be- 
friend him ;  but  he  who  shall  disturb  you  or  your  Monastery,  may 
he  be  cursed  by  the  living  God  and  by  his  Saints.  So  the  King 
signed  the  writing  which  he  had  commanded  to  be  made,  and  his 
sons  and  chief  captains  signed  it  also,  and  in  the  writing  he  en- 
joined his  children  and  his  children's  children,  as  many  as  should 
come  after  him,  to  honour  and  protect  the  Monastery  of  Lorvam, 
upon  his  blessing  he  charged  them  so  to  do,  because  he  had  found 
the  brethren  better  than  all  the  other  Monks  in  his  dominions. 

XVIII.  Then  King  Don  Ferrando  knighted  Rodrigo  of  Bivar 
in  the  great  mosque  of  Coimbra,  which  he  dedicated  to  St.  Mary. 
And  the  ceremony  was  after  this  manner :  the  King  girded  on  his 
sword,  and  gave  him  the  kiss,1  but  not  the  blow.  To  do  him  more 
honour  the  Queen  gave  him  his  horse,  and  the  Infanta  Dona  Ur 
raca  fastened  on  his  spurs  ;  and  from  that  day  forth  he  was  called 
Ruydiez."  Then  the  King  commanded  him  to  knight  nine  noble 

1  The  blow  was  given  with  the  hand  upon  the  neck,  and  with  these  words, 
Despertad,  y  no  os  durmais  en  las  cosas  de  Cavalleria,  —  Awake,  and  sleep 
not  in  affairs  of  knighthood. —  Berganza,  5,  II,  §  142.  He  adds  that  the 
King  omitted  this,  knowing  well  that  the  Cid  needed  no  such  exhortation. 

-  Ruy  is  merely  the  abbreviation  of  Koclrigo.  Berganza  infers  from  this 
passage,  that  they  who  aspired  to  knighthood  were  called  only  by  their  bap- 
tismal names,  and  did  not  assume  the  patronymic  till  they  had  received  the 
order  in  signification  that  they  were  not  to  pride  themselves  upon  hereditary 
honour  till  they  were  able  to  support  it. 


232  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

squires  with  his  own  hand ;  and  he  took  his  sword  before  the 
altar,  and  knighted  them.  The  King  then  gave  Coimbra  to  the 
keeping  of  Don  Sisnando,  Bishop  of  Iria ;  a  man,  who  having  more 
hardihood  than  religion,  had  by  reason  of  his  misdeeds  gone  over 
to  the  Moors,  and  sorely  infested  the  Christians  in  Portugal.  But 
during  the  siege  he  had  come  to  the  King's  service,  and  bestirred 
himself  well  against  the  Moors;  and  therefore  the  King  took  him 
into  his  favour,  and  gave  him  the  city  to  keep,  which  he  kept,  and 
did  much  evil  to  the  Moors  till  the  day  of  his  death.  And  the  King 
departed  and  went  to  Compostella  to  return  thanks  to  Santiago. 

XIX.  But  then  Benalfagi,  who  was  the  Lord  of  many  lands  in 
Estremadura,  gathered  together  a  great  power  of  the  Moors  and 
built  up  the  walls  of  Montemor,  and  from  thence  waged  war  against 
Coimbra,  so  that  they  of  Coimbra  called  upon  the  King  for  help. 
And  the  King  came  up  against  the  town,  and  fought  against  it,  and 
took  it.    Great  honour  did  Ruydiez  win  at  that  siege  ;  for  having  to 
protect  the  foragers,  the  enemy  came  out  upon  him,  and  thrice  in 
one  day  was  he  beset  by  them  ;  but  he,  though  sorely  prest  by  them, 
and  in  great  peril,  nevertheless,  would  not  send  to  the  camp  for 
succour,  but  put  forth  his  manhood  and  defeated  them.    And  from 
that  day  the  King  gave  more  power  into  his  hands,  and  made  him 
head  over  all  his  household. 

XX.  Now  the  men  of  Leon  besought  the  King  that  he  would 
repeople  Zamora,  which  had  lain  desolate  since  it  was  destroyed 
by  Almanzor.     And  he  went  thither  and  peopled  the  city,  and  gave 
to  it  good  privileges.     And  while  he  was  there  came  messengers 
from  the  five  Kings  who  were  vassals  to  Ruydiez  of  Bivar,  bringing 
him  their  tribute  ;  and  they  came  to  him,  he  being  with  the  King, 
and  called  him  Cid,  which  signifieth  Lord,  and  would  have  kissed 
his  hands,  but  he  would  not  give  them  his  hand  till  they  kissed  the 
hand  of  the  King.     And  Ruydiez  took  the  tribute  and  offered  the 
fifth  thereof  to  the  King,  in  token  of  his  sovereignty  ;  and  the  King 
thanked  him,  but  would  not  receive  it,  and  from  that  time  he 
ordered  that  Ruydiez  should  be  called  the  Cid,  because  the  Moors 
had  so  called  him. 

XXI.  In  those  days  Pope  Victor  II.  held  a  council  at  Florence, 
and  the  Emperor  Henry  there  made  his  complaint  against  King 
Don  Ferrando,  that  he  did  not  acknowledge  his  sovereignty,  and 
pay  him  tribute  like  all  other  Kings ;  and  he  besought  the  Pope  to 
admonish  him  so  to  do.     And  the  Pope  being  a  German,  and  the 
friend  of  Henry,  sent  to  the  King  to  admonish  him,  and  told  him, 
that  unless  he  obeyed  he  would  proclaim  a  crusade  against  him  ; 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  233 

and  in  like  manner  the  Emperor,  and  the  King  of  France,  and  the 
other  Kings,  sent  to  exhort  him  to  obedience,  defying  him  if  he 
should  refuse.  When  the  King  saw  their  letters  he  was  troubled, 
for  he  knew  that  if  this  thing  were  done,  great  evil  would  follow  to 
Castile  and  Leon.  And  he  took  counsel  with  his  honourable  men. 
They  seeing  on  the  one  hand  the  great  power  of  the  Church  and  on 
the  other  the  great  evil  that  it  would  be  if  Castile  and  Leon  should 
be  made  tributary,  knew  not  what  counsel  to  give ;  howbeit  at 
length  they  said  to  him  that  he  should  do  the  Pope's  bidding.  At 
this  council  the  Cid  was  not  present,  for  he  had  lately  completed 
his  marriage  with  Dona  Ximena  Gomez,  and  was  then  with  her ; 
but  at  this  time  he  arrived,  and  the  King  showed  him  the  letters, 
and  told  him  the  matter  how  it  then  stood,  and  what  had  been  the 
advice  of  his  good  men,  and  besought  him  to  speak  his  advice,  as 
a  good  and  true  vassal  to  his  Lord.  When  the  Cid  heard  what 
had  passed  it  grieved  him  to  the  heart,  more  for  the  counsel  which 
had  been  given  to  the  King,  than  because  of  the  Pope's  commands  ; 
and  he  turned  to  the  King  and  said,  In  an  ill  day,  Sir,  were  you 
born  in  Spain,  if  it  be  in  your  time  to  be  made  tributary,  which  it 
never  was  before ;  for  all  the  honour  which  God  hath  given  you, 
and  whatever  good  he  hath  done  to  you,  is  lost  if  it  should  be  so. 
And,  Sir,  whoever  hath  given  you  this  counsel  is  not  a  true  man, 
neither  one  who  regardeth  your  honour  nor  your  power.  But  send 
to  defy  them  since  they  will  have  it  so,  and  let  us  carry  the  war 
home  to  them.  You  shall  take  with  you  five  thousand  knights,  all 
of  whom  are  hidalgos,  and  the  Moorish  Kings  who  are  your  vassals 
will  give  you  two  thousand  knights ;  and,  Sir,  you  are  such  a  one 
as  God  loves,  and  he  will  not  that  your  honour  should  perish.  And 
the  King  thought  that  he  was  well  counselled  by  him,  for  the  King 
was  of  a  great  heart. 

XXII.  Then  the  King  ordered  letters  to  be  written,  in  which  he 
besought  the  Pope  not  to  proceed  farther  against  him  without  just 
cause,  for  Spain  had  been  conquered  by  those  who  dwelt  therein, 
by  the  blood  of  them  and  of  their  fathers,  and  they  had  never  been 
tributary,  and  never  would  be  so,  but  would  rather  all  die.  More- 
over he  sent  his  letters  to  the  Emperor  and  to  the  other  Kings, 
telling  them  that  they  well  knew  the  wrong  which  the  Emperor  did 
him,  having  no  jurisdiction  over  him,  nor  lawful  claim  ;  and  he  be- 
sought them  to  let  him  alone  that  he  might  continue  to  wage  war 
against  the  enemies  of  the  faith ;  but  if  they  persisted  to  speak 
against  him  he  then  sent  them  back  their  friendship,  and  defied 
them,  and  where  they  all  were,  there  would  he  go  to  seek  them, 


234  CHRONICLE    OF   THE 

While  this  reply  was  on  its  way  he  gathered  together  his  people,  as 
he  and  the  Cid  had  advised,  and  set  forward  with  eight  thousand 
and  nine  hundred  knights,  both  of  his  own  and  of  the  Cid,  and  the 
Cid  led  the  advanced  guard.  When  they  had  passed  the  passes  of 
Aspa  they  found  that  the  country  was  up,  and  the  people  would  not 
sell  them  food  ;  but  the  Cid  set  his  hand  to,  to  burn  all  the  country 
before  him,  and  plunder  from  those  who  would  not  sell,  but  to  those 
who  brought  food  he  did  no  wrong.  And  after  such  manner  did 
he  proceed,  that  wherever  the  King  and  his  army  arrived  they  found 
all  things  of  which  they  could  stand  in  need  ;  and  the  news  went 
sounding  throughout  all  the  land,  so  that  all  men  trembled. 

XXIII.  Then  Count  Remon,  Lord  of  Savoy,  with  the  power  of 
the  King  of  France,  gathered  together  twenty  thousand  knights  and 
came  beyond  Tolosa,  to  hold  the  road  against  King  Don  Ferrando. 
And  he  met  with  his  harbinger  the  Cid,  who  went  before  him  to 
prepare  lodgings,  and  they  had  a  hard  battle  ;  and  the  men  of  the 
Count  were  discomfited,  and  he  himself  made  prisoner  and  many 
with  him,  and  many  were  slain.     And  the  Count  besought  the  Cid 
of  his  mercy  to  set  him  free,  saying  that  he  would  give  him  a  daugh- 
ter he  had,  the  which  was  right  fair ;  and  the  Cid  did  as  he  besought 
him,  and  the  daughter  was  given  to  him,  and  he  set  the  Count  free. 
And  by  this  woman  King  Don  Ferrando  had  his  son  the  Cardinal 
Ferrando,  who  was  so  honourable  a  man. 

XXIV.  After  this  the  Cid  had  another  battle  with  all  the  power 
of  France,  and  discomfited  them,  and  at  neither  of  these  battles 
did  the  King  and  his  main  army  arrive.     So  the  news  went  sound- 
ing before  them  to  the  council,  of  the  fierceness  of  the  Cid  ;  and 
as  they  all  knew  that  he  was  the  conqueror  of  battles,  they  knew 
not  what  to  advise  ;  and  they  besought  the  Pope  that  he  would 
send  to  them,  begging  them  to  turn  back,  and  saying  that  they  did 
not  require  tribute.     These  letters  came  to  the  King  when  he  had 
past  Tolosa,  and  he  took  counsel  with  the  Cid  and  with  his  good 
men,  and  they  advised  that  he  should  send  two  of  his  good  men  to 
the  Pope,  who  should  tell  him  to  send  a  Cardinal  with  power  to 
make  a  covenant,  that  persons  from  the  Emperor  and  from  the 
other  Kings  also  should  come  to  ratify  this,  and  meanwhile  he  would 
abide  where  he  was.     But  if  they  did  not  come  he  would  go  on  to 
them.     Count  Don  Rodrigo.  and  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  certain 
learned  men,  were  sent  with  this  bidding.     And  when  they  came 
to  the  Pope  and  gave  him  their  letters,  he  was  much  dismayed, 
and  he  assembled  the  good  and  honourable  men  of  the  council, 
and  asked  of  them  what  he  should  do.     And  they  made  answer 


RODRIGQ  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  235 

that  he  must  do  as  the  King  willed  him,  for  none. was  so  hardy  as 
to  "fight  against  the  good  fortune  of  his  vassal  the  Cid.  Then  the 
Pope  sent  Master  Roberto,  the  Cardinal  of  St.  Sabina,  with  full 
powers,  and  the  representatives  of  the  Emperor  and  of  the  other 
Kings  came  also  and  signed  the  covenant,  that  this  demand  should 
never  again  be  made  upon  the  King  of  Spain.  And  the  writings 
which  they  made  were  confirmed  by  the  Pope  and  by  the  Emperor 
and  the  other  Kings,  and  sealed  with  their  seals. 

XXV.  While  this  was  doing  the  King  abode  where  he  was,  be- 
yond Tolosa ;  six  months  did  he  abide  there.     And  the  Pope  sent 
to  ask  of  him  the  daughter  of  Count  Remon ;  and  she  was  then 
five  months  gone  with  child ;  and  by  the  advice  of  his  vassal  the 
Cid  the  King  sent  her,  and  sent  to  tell  the  Pope  the  whole  truth, 
requesting  that  he  would  see  she  was  taken  care  of:  and  the  Pope 
ordered  that  she  should  be  taken  care  of  till  the  event  should  be. 
And  she  was  delivered  of  the  Abbot  Don  Ferrando ;  the  Pope  was 
his  godfather,  and  brought  him  up  right  honourably,  and  dispensed 
with  his  bastardy  that  he  might  hold  any  sacred  dignity ;  and  in 
process  of  time  he  was  made  an  honourable  Cardinal.     So  the 
King'1  returned  with  great  honour  into  his  own  land,  and  from 
that  time  he  was  called  Don  Ferrando  the  Great,  the  Emperor's 
peer  ;  and  it  was  said  of  him  in  songs  that  he  had  passed  the  passes 
of  Aspa  in  despite  of  the  Frenchmen. 

XXVI.  Many  other  things  did  King  Don  Ferrando,  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  Chroniclon  of  the  Kings  of  Spain,  enrich- 
ing churches  and  monasteries,  and  honouring  the  saints  and  mar- 
tyrs and  making  war  upon  the  misbelievers.     And  it  came  to  pass 
when  he  was  waxed  old,  that  as  he  was  one  day  saying  his  prayers, 
the  confessor  St.  Isidro  appeared   unto   him,  and  told  him  the 
day  and  hour  when  he  should  die,  to  the  intent  that  he  might  make 
ready  and  confess  his  sins,  and  make  atonement  for  them,  and  take 
thought  for  his  soul,  so  that  he  might  appear  clean  from  offence 
before  the  face  of  God.     From  that  day  he,  being  certain  that  his 
end  was  at  hand,  began  to  discharge  his  soul.     And  he  devised 
within  himself  how  to  dispose  of  the  kingdoms  which  God  had 
given  him,  that  there  might  be  no  contention  between  his  sons 
after  his  death  ;  and  he  thought  it  best  to  divide  his  lands  among 
them  ; '  but  this  which  he  thought  best  proved  to  be  the  worst,  and 
great  evil  came  thereof,  for  better  had  it  been  that  he  had  left  all 

1 Berganza  believes  everything  in  the  history  of  this  expedition,  except  the 
episode  of  the  Lord  of  Savoy's  daughter,  which  he  attributes  with  good  reason 
to  the  Joculars. 


236  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

to  the  eldest.  Howbeit  it  was  his  pleasure  to  divide  them  :  he  had 
three  sons,  Don  Sancho  who  was  the  eldest,  and  Don  Alfonso  who 
was  the  second  born,  and  Don  Garcia  who  was  the  youngest ;  and 
two  daughters,  Dona  Urraca  and  Dona  Elvira.  The  manner  in 
which  he  divided  his  lands  was  this :  he  gave  to  Don  Sancho  the 
kingdom  of  Castile  as  far  as  to  the  river  Pisuerga,  on  the  side  of 
I, eon,  with  the  border,  which  included  the  dioceses  of  Osma,  and 
Segovia,  and  Avila,  and  on  the  side  of  Navarre  as  far  as  the  Ebro, 
as  he  had  won  it  from  his  nephew  Don  Sancho  Garcia,  King  of 
Navarre.  To  Don  Alfonso  he  gave  the  kingdom  of  Leon,  and  in 
Asturias  as  far  as  the  river  Deva,  which  runs  by  Oviedo,  and  part 
of  Campos  as  far  as  Carrion  and  the  river  Pisuerga,  with  the 
border,  which  contained  the  dioceses  of  Zamora,  Salamanca,  and 
Ciudad  Rodrigo,  and  the  city  of  Astorga,  and  other  lands  in  Gali- 
cia,  with  the  town  of  Zebreros.  To  Don  Garcia  he  gave  the  king- 
dom of  Galicia,  and  all  the  lands  which  he  had  won  in  Portugal, 
with  the  title  of  King  of  Galicia,  which  country  had  had  no  King 
of  its  own  since  the  kingdom  of  the  Suevi  had  been  overthrown  by 
King  Leovegildo.  And  to  Dona  Urraca  he  gave  the  city  of  Zamora 
with  all  its  dependencies,  and  with  half  the  Infantazgo  ;  arid  the 
other  half,  with  the  city  of  Toro  and  its  dependencies,  to  Dona 
Elvira. 

XXVII.  When  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  knew  that  the  King  his 
father  had  made  this  allotment  it  displeased  him,  for  he  was  the 
eldest  son ;  and  he  said  to  his  father  that  he  neither  could  nor 
ought  to  make  this  division ;  for  the  Gothic  Kings  had  in  old  time 
made  a  constitution  for  themselves,  that  the  kingdom  and  empire 
of  Spain  never  should  be  divided,  but  remain  one  dominion  under 
one  Lord.    But  the  King  replied  that  he  would  not  for  this  forbear 
to  do  as  he  had  resolved,  for  he  had  won  the  kingdom  :  then  the 
Infante  made  answer,  Do  as  you  will,  being  my  father  and  Lord  : 
but  I  do  not  consent  unto  it.     So  the  King  made  this  division 
against  the  right  of  the  Infante  Don  Sancho,  and  it  displeased 
many  in  the  kingdom,  and  many  it  pleased ;  but  they  who  were 
of  good  understanding  perceived  the  evil  which  would  arise. 

XXVIII.  After  this  the  King  fell  sick  with  the  malady  whereof  he 
died.     And  he  made  himself  be  carried  to  Leon,  and  there  on  his 
knees  before  the  bodies  of  the  saints  he  besought  mercy  of  them. 
And  putting  his  crown  upon  his  head  before  the  holy  body  of  St. 
Isidro  he  called  upon  God,  saying,  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thine  is 
the  power  over  all,  and  thine  is  the  kingdom,  for  thou  art  King  of 
all  kingdoms,  and  of  all  Kings,  and  of  all  nations,  and  all  are  at  thy 


RODR1CO    DIAZ   DE   BIVAK.  237 

command.  And  now  Lord  I  return  unto  thee  the  kingdom  which 
thou  hast  given  me,  but  I  beseech  thee  of  thy  mercy  that  my  soul 
may  be  brought  to  the  light  which  hath  no  end.  Having  said  thus, 
he  stript  himself  of  the  royal  robes  adorned  with  gold  in  which  he 
was  arrayed,  and  took  the  crown  from  his  head  and  placed  it  upon 
the  altar ;  and  he  put  sackcloth  upon  the  carrion  of  his  body,  and 
prayed  to  God,  confessing  all  the  sins  which  he  had  committed 
against  him,  and  took  his  acquittal  from  the  Bishops,  for  they  ab- 
solved him  from  his  sins  ;  and  forthwith  he  there  received  extreme 
unction,  and  strewed  ashes  upon  himself.  After  this,  by  his  own 
order  he  was  carried  to  St.  Mary  of  Almazan  in  pilgrimage,  and 
there  he  remained  thrice  nine  days,  beseeching  St.  Mary  that  she 
would  have  mercy  upon  him  and  intercede  with  her  blessed  Son  for 
his  soul.  From  thence  they  carried  him  to  Cabezon,  and  there  the 
Abbot  Don  Ferrando  came  to  him,  an  honourable  man,  and  many 
other  honourable  men  of  his  realms,  and  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  whom  the 
King  commended  to  the  Infante  Don  Sancho,  his  son.  And  after 
he  had  put  all  his  affairs  in  order  he  remained  three  days  lamenting 
in  pain,  and  on  the  fourth,  being  the  day  of  St.  John  the  Evangel- 
ist, he  called  for  the  Cardinal  abbot,  and  commended  Spain  and 
his  other  sons  to  him,  and  gave  him  his  blessing,  and  then  at  the 
hour  of  sexts  he  rendered  up  his  soul  without  stain  to  God,  being 
full  of  years.  So  they  carried  him  to  Leon  and  buried  him  near 
his  father,  in  the  Church  of  St.  Isidro,  which  he  had  built.  Thirty 
and  one  years  did  King  Don  Ferrando  the  Great,  who  was  Peer  with 
the  Emperor,  reign  over  Castile.  The  Queen  his  wife  lived  two  years 
after  him,  leading  a  holy  life  ;  a  good  Queen  had  she  been  and  of 
good  understanding,  and  right  loving  to  her  husband  :  alway  had 
she  counselled  him  well,  being  in  truth  the  mirror  of  his  kingdoms, 
and  the  friend  of  the  widows  and  orphans.  Her  end  was  a  good 
end,  like  that  of  the  King  her  husband  :  God  give  them  Paradise 
for  their  reward.  Amen. 


238  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 


BOOK    II. 

I.  THE  history  relates  how  after  the  death  of  King  Don  Ferrando, 
the  three  Kings  his  sons  reigned  each  in  his  kingdom,  according  to 
the  division  made  by  their  father,  who  had  divided  that  which  should 
all  by  right  have  descended  to  the  King  Don  Sancho.     Now  the 
Kings  of  Spain  were  of  the  blood  of  the  Goths,  which  was  a  fierce 
blood,  for  it  had  many  times  come  to  pass  among  the  Gothic  Kings, 
that  brother  had  slain  brother  upon  this  quarrel ;  from  this  blood 
was  King  Don  Sancho  descended,  and  he  thought  that  it  would  be 
a  reproach  unto  him  if  he  did  not  join  together  the  three  kingdoms 
under  his  own  dominion,  for  he  was  not  pleased  with  what  his  father 
had  given  him,  holding  that  the  whole  ought  to  have  been  his.    And 
he  went  through  the  land  setting  it  in  order,  and  what  thing  soever 
his  people  asked  at  his  hand  that  he  did  grant  them  freely,  to  the 
end  that  he  might  win  their  hearts. 

II.  Now  when  King  Don  Sancho  of  Navarre  saw  that  there  was 
a  new  King  in  Castile,  he  thought  to  recover  the  lands  of  Bureva 
and  of  old  Castile  as  far  as  Laredo,  which  had  been  lost  when  the 
King  his  father  was  defeated  and  slain  at  Atapuerca  in  the  mountains 
of  Oca.   And  now  seeing  that  the  kingdom  of  Ferrando  was  divided, 
he  asked  help  of  his  uncle  Don  Ramiro,  King  of  Arragon  ;  and  the 
men  of  Arragon  and  of  Navarre  entered  Castile  together.    But  King 
Don  Sancho  gathered  together  his  host,  and  put  the  Cid  at  their 
head;  and  such  account  did  he  give  of  his  enemies,  that  he  of 
Navarre  was  glad  to  enjoy  Rioja  in  peace,  and  lay  no  farther  claim 
to  what  his  father  had  lost.     Now  the  King  of  Castile  was  wroth 
against  the  King  of  Arragon,  that  he  should  thus  have  joined  agains'. 
him  without  cause ;  and  in  despite  of  him  he  marched  against  the 
Moors  of  Zaragoza,  and  laying  waste  their  country  with  fire  and 
sword,  he  came  before  their  city,  and  gave  orders  to  assault  it,  and 
began  to  set  up  his  engines.     When  the  King  of  Zarago/a  saw  the 
great  will  which  the  King  had  to  do  evil  unto  him,  and  that  there 
was  none  to  help  him,  he  thought  it  best  to  come  to  his  mercy, 
paying  tribute,  or  serving  him,  or  in  any  manner  whatsoever.    And 
he  sent  interpreters  to  King  Don  Sancho  saying,  that  he  would  give 
him  much  gold  and  silver,  and  many  gifts,  and  be  his  vassal,  and 


•r     RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  239 

pay  him  tribute  yearly.  The  King  received  them  right  honourably, 
and  when  he  had  heard  their  bidding  he  answered  resolutely,  being 
of  a  great  heart,  All  this  which  the  King  of  Zaragoza  sends  to  say 
unto  me  is  well,  but  he  hath  another  thing  in  his  heart.  He  sends 
to  bid  me  break  up  the  siege  and  depart  from  his  land,  and  as  soon 
as  I  should  have  departed,  he  would  make  friends  unto  himself 
among  Christians  and  among  Moors,  and  fail  me  in  all  which  he 
covenants.  Nevertheless  I  will  do  this  thing  which  your  King  re- 
quires of  me  ;  but  if  in  the  end  he  lie,  I  will  come  back  upon  him 
and  destroy  him,  trusting  in  God  that  he  cannot  defend  himself 
against  me.  And  when  the  interpreters  heard  this  they  were  greatly- 
dismayed,  and  they  returned  and  told  their  King  all  that  he  had 
said.  And  the  Moors  seeing  that  they  could  not  help  themselves, 
made  such  terms  with  him  as  it  pleased  him  to  grant,  and  gave  him 
hostages  that  they  might  not  be  able  to  prove  false.  And  they  gave 
him  gold  and  silver  and  precious  stones  in  abundance,  so  that  with 
great  riches  and  full  honourably  did  he  and  all  his  men  depart  from 
the  siege. 

III.  Greatly  was  the  King  of  Arragon  displeased  at  this  which 
King  Don  Sancho  had  done,  thinking  that  it  was  to  his  great  injury 
and  abasement,  for  Zaragoza  he  held  to  be  within  his  conquest. 
And  he  came  out  with  all  his  power  to  cut  off  the  King's  return, 
and  took  possession  of  the  way,  and  said  unto  him  that  he  should 
not  pass  till  he  had  made  amends  for  the  great  dishonour  which  he 
had  wrought  him,  in  coming  into,  his  conquest  and  against  his 
vassals  :  the  amends  which  he  required  was,  that  he  should  yield 
unto  him  all  the  spoil,  and  all  which  the  King  of  Zaragoza  had  given 
him,  else  should  he  not  pass  without  battle.  When  King  Don  Sancho 
heard  this,  being  a  man  of  great  heart,  he  made  answer,  that  he  was 
the  head  of  the  kingdoms  of  Castile  and  Leon,  and  all  the  conquests 
in  Spain  were  his,  for  the  Kings  of  Arragon  had  no  conquests  ap- 
pertaining unto  them,  being  by  right  his  tributaries,  and  bound  to 
appear  at  his  Cortes.  Wherefore  he  counselled  him  to  waive  this 
demand,  and  let  him  pass  in  peace.  But  the  King  of  Arragon  drew 
up  his  host  for  battle,  and  the  onset  was  made,  and  heavy  blows  were 
dealt  on  both  sides,  and  many  horses  were  left  without  a  master. 
And  while  the  battle  was  yet  upon  the  chance,  King  Don  Sancho 
riding  right  bravely  through  the  battle,  began  to  call  out  Castile  ! 
Castile  !  and  charged  the  main  body  so  fiercely  that  by  fine  force 
he  broke  them  ;  and  when  they  were  thus  broken  the  Castilians 
began  cruelly  to  slay  them,  so  that  King  Don  Sancho  had  pity  thereof, 
and  called  out  unto  his  people  not  to  kill  them,  for  they  were  Chris- 


240  CHRONICLE    01-    THE   CW,       ^ 

tians.  Then  King  Don  Ramiro  being  discomfited,  retired  to  a 
mountain,  and  King  Don  Sancho  beset  the  mountain  round  about, 
and  made  a  covenant  with  him  that  he  should  depart,  and  that  the 
King  of  Zaragoza  should  remain  tributary  to  Castile  ;  and  but  for 
this  covenant  the  King  of  Arragon  would  then  have  been  slain,  or 
made  prisoner.  This  was  the  battle  whereof  the  Black  Book  of 
Santiago  speaketh,  saying,  that  in  this  year,  on  the  day  of  the  Con- 
version of  St.  Paul,  was  the  great  slaughter  of  the  Christians  in  Porca. 
In  all  these  wars  did  my  Cid  demean  himself  after  his  wonted  man- 
ner ;  and  because  of  the  great  feats  which  he  performed  the  King 
loved  him  well,  and  made  him  his  Alferez ;  so  that  in  the  whole 
army  he  was  second  only  to  the  King.  And  because  when  the  host 
was  in  the  field  it  was  his  office  to  choose  the  place  for  encamp- 
ment, therefore  was  my  Cid  called  the  Campeador. 

IV.  While  King  Don  Sancho  was  busied  in  these  wars,  King 
Don  Garcia  of  Galicia  took  by  force  from  Dona  Urraca  his  sister  a 
great  part  of  the  lands  which  the  King  their  father  had  given  her. 
And  when  she  heard  this  she  began  to  lament  aloud,  saying,  Ah 
King  Don  Ferrando,  in  an  evil  hour  didst  thou  divide  thy  king- 
dom, for  thereby  will  all  the  land  be  brought  to  destruction.  And 
now  also  will  be  accomplished  that  which  my  fosterer  Arias  Gon- 
zalo  said,  for  now  that  King  Don  Garcia,  who  is  my  younger  brother, 
hath  dispossessed  me  and  broken  the  oath  which  he  made  unto  my 
father,  what  will  not  the  elder  do,  who  made  the  vow  by  compul- 
sion, and  alway  made  protestation  against  the  division  !  God  send 
that  as  thou  hast  disherited  me,  thou  mayest  speedily  thyself  in 
like  manner  be  disherited,  Amen  !  But  when  King  Don  Sancho 
heard  what  his  brother  had  done  he  was  well  pleased  thereat,  think- 
ing that  he  might  now  bring  to  pass  that  which  he  so  greatly  de- 
sired ;  and  he  assembled  together  his  Ricos-omes  and  his  knights, 
and  said  unto  them,  The  King  my  father  divided  the  kingdoms 
which  should  have  been  mine,  and  therein  he  did  unjustly  ;  now 
King  Don  Garcia  my  brother  hath  broken  the  oath  and  disherited 
Dona  Urraca  my  sister ;  I  beseech  ye  therefore  counsel  me  what 
1  shall  do,  and  in  what  manner  to  proceed  against  him,  for  I  will 
take  his  kingdom  away  from  him.  Upon  this  Count  Don  Gmcia 
Ordonez  arose  and  said,  There  is  not  a  man  in  the  world,  Sir,  who 
would  counsel  you  to  break  the  command  of  your  father,  and  the 
vow  which  you  made  unto  him.  And  the  King  was  greatly  in- 
censed at  him  and  said,  Go  from  before  me  for  I  shall  never  receive 
good  counsel  from  thee.  The  King  then  took  the  Cid  by  the  hand 
and  led  him  apart,  and  said  unto  him,  Thou  well  knowest,  my  Cid, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE    HI  TAR.  241 

that  when  the  King  my  father  commended  thee  unto  me,  he 
charged  me  upon  pain  of  his  curse  that  I  should  take  you  for  my 
adviser,  and  whatever  I  did  that  I  should  do  it  with  your  counsel, 
and  I  have  done  so  even  until  this  day  ;  and  thou  hast  alway  coun- 
selled me  for  the  best,  and  for  this  I  have  given  thee  a  county  in 
my  kingdom,  holding  it  well  bestowed.  Now  then  I  beseech  you 
advise  me  how  best  to  recover  these  kingdoms,  for  if  I  have  not 
counsel  from  you  I  do  not  expect  to  have  it  from  any  man  in  the 
world. 

V.  Greatly  troubled  at  this  was  the  Cid,  and  he  answered  and 
said,  111,  Sir,  would  it  behove  me  to  counsel  you  that  you  should 
go  against  the  will  of  your  father.  You  well  know  that  when  I 
went  to  Cabezon  unto  him,  after  he  had  divided  his  kingdoms,  how 
he  made  me  swear  to  him  that  I  would  alway  counsel  his  sons  the 
best  I  could,  and  never  give  them  ill  counsel ;  and  while  I  can, 
thus  must  I  continue  to  do.  But  the  King  answered,  My  Cid,  I 
do  not  hold  that  in  this  I  am  breaking  the  oath  made  to  my  father, 
for  I  ever  said  that  the  partition  should  not  be,  and  the  oath  which 
I  made  was  forced  upon  me.  Now  King  Don  Garcia  my  brother 
hath  broken  the  oath,  and  all  these  kingdoms  by  right  are  mine  : 
and  therefore  I  will  that  you  counsel  me  how  I  may  unite  them, 
for  from  so  doing  there  is  nothing  in  this  world  which  shall  pre- 
vent me,  except  it  be  death.  Then  when  the  Cid  saw  that  he 
could  by  no  means  turn  him  from  that  course,  he  advised  him  to 
obtain  the  love  of  his  brother  King  Don  Alfonso,  that  he  might 
grant  him  passage  through  his  kingdom  to  go  against  Don  Garcia  : 
and  if  this  should  be  refused  he  counselled  him  not  to  make  the 
attempt.  And  the  King  saw  that  his  counsel  was  good,  and  sent 
his  letters  to  King  Don  Alfonso  beseeching  him  to  meet  him  at 
Sahagun.  When  King  Don  Alfonso  received  the  letters  he  mar- 
velled to  what  end  this  might  be :  howbeit  he  sent  to  say  that  he 
would  meet  him.  And  the  two  Kings  met  in  Sahagun.  And  King 
Don  Sancho  said,  Brother,  you  well  know  that  King  Don  Garcia 
our  brother  hath  broken  the  oath  made  unto  our  father,  and  dis- 
herhed  our  sister  Dona  Urraca ;  for  this  I  will  take  his  kingdom 
away  from  him,  and  I  beseech  you  join  with  me.  But  Don  Alfonso 
answered  that  he  would  not  go  against  the  will  of  his  father,  and 
the  oath  which  he  had  sworn.  Then  King  Don  Sancho  said,  that 
if  he  would  let  him  pass  through  his  kingdom  he  would  give  him 
part  of  what  he  should  gain  :  and  King  Don  Alfonso  agreed  to 
this.  And  upon  this  matter  they  fixed  another  day  to  meet ;  and 
then  forty  knights  were  named,  twenty  for  Castile  and  twenty  for 


242  CIIKOXR'I.E    01-    Til!-.    C//>, 

Leon,  as  vouchers  that  this  which  they  covenanted  should  be  faith- 
fully fulfilled  on  both  sides. 

VI.  Then  King  Don  Sancho  gathered  together  a  great   host, 
Castilians  and  Leonese,  and  they  of  Navarre  and  Biscay,  Asturians 
and  men  of  Arragon  and  of  the  border.    And  he  sent  Alvar  Fane/, 
the  cousin  of  the  Cid,  to  King  Don  Garcia,  to  bid  him  yield  up 
his  kingdom,  and  if  he  refused  to  do  this  to  defy  him  on  his  part. 
Alvar  Faiiex,  albeit  unwillingly,  was  bound  to  obey  the  bidding  of 
his  Lord,  and  he  went  to  King  Don  (iarcia  and  delivered  his  bid- 
ding.    When  King  Don  Garcia  heard  it  he  was  greatly  troubled, 
and  he  cried  out  in  his  trouble  and  said.  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thou 
rememberest  the  oath  which  we  made  to  our  father  !  for  my  sins 
I  have  been  the  first  to  break  it,  and  have  disherited  my  sister. 
And  he  said  to  Alvar  Fanez,  Say  to  my  brother,  that  I  bescrrh 
him  not  to  break  the  oath  which  he  made  to  our  father  ;  but  if  he 
will  persist  to  do  this  thing  I  must  defend  myself  as  I  can.     And 
with  this  answer  Alvar  Fanez  returned.     Then  King  Don  (iarcia 
called  unto  him  a  knight  of  Asturias,  whose  name  was   Ruy  Xime- 
nez,  and  bade  him  go  to  his  brother  King  Don  Alfonso  and  tell 
him  what  had  past  and  how  King  1  )on  Sancho  would  take  away 
his  kingdom  from  him  ;  and  to  beseech  him  as  a  brother  that  he 
would  not  let  him  pass  through  his  dominions.     And  King  Don 
Alfonso  replied,  Say  to  my  brother  that  I  will  neither  help  King 
Don  Sancho,  nor  oppose  him  :  and  tell  him  that  if  he  can  defend 
himself  I   shall   be  well   pleased.      And  with  this   answer,   Ruy 
Ximenez  returned,  and  bade  the  King  look  to  himself  for  defence, 
for  he  would  find  no  help  in  his  brother. 

VII.  Now  Don  Garcia  was  not  beloved  in  his  kingdom  of  Gali- 
cia,  neither  in  Portugal,  for  as  much  as  he  showed  little  favour  to 
the  hidalgos,  both  Galegos  and  Portuguese,  and  vexed  the  people 
with  tributes  which  he  had  newly  imposed.     The  cause  of  all  this 
was  a  favourite,  by  name  Verna,  to  whom  the  King  gave  so  much 
authority,  that  he  displeased  all  the  chief  persons  in  his  dominions, 
and  hearkened  unto  him  in  all  things ;  and  by  his  advice  it  was 
that  he  had  despoiled  his  sister  Dona  Urraca  of  her  lands,  and 
his  sister  Dona  Elvira  also,  and  had  done  other  things,  whereby 
Portugal  and  Galicia  were  now  in  danger  to  be  lost.     And  the 
knights  and  hidalgos  took  counsel  together  how  they  might  remedy 
these  evils,  and  they  agreed  that  the  King  should  in  the  name  of 
them  all  be  advised  how  ill  he  was  served,  and  entreated  to  put 
away  his  favourite.     Don  Rodrigo  Frojax  was  the  one  named  to 
speak  unto  the   King;   for  bring  a  man  of  approved  valour,  and 


RODRIGO   DIAZ   DE   BITAK.  243 

the  Lord  of  many  lands,  it  was  thought  that  the  King  would  listen 
more  to  him  than  to  any  other.  But  it  fell  out  otherwise  than  they 
had  devised,  for  Verna  had  such  power  over  the  mind  of  the  King, 
that  the  remonstrance  was  ill  received,  and  Don  Rodrigo  and  the 
other  hidalgos  were  contumeliously  treated  in  public  by  the  King. 
Don  Rodrigo  would  not  bear  this,  being  a  right  loyal  and  valiant 
man  ;  and  he  went  one  day  into  the  palace,  and  finding  Verna 
busied  in  affairs  of  state,  he  drew  forth  his  sword  and  slew  him ; 
then  leaving  the  palace,  for  none  cared  to  lay  hands  on  him,  he 
left  Portugal  and  took  the  road  toward  France  :  many  of  his  vas- 
sals and  kinsmen  and  friends  following  him,  to  seek  their  fortunes 
in  a  country  where  valour  would  be  esteemed,  for  they  were  weary 
of  the  bad  government  of  King  Don  Garcia. 

VIII.  But  when  King  Don  Garcia  knew  of  the  league  which 
his  brethren  had  made  to  divide  his  kingdom  between  them,  it 
was  a  greater  trouble  to  him  than  the  death  of  Verna,  and  he 
called  his  chief  captains  together  and  consulted  with  them  ;  and 
they  advised  him  that  he  should  send  to  recall  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz, 
for  having  him  the  realm  would  be  secure,  and  without  him  it  was 
in  danger  to  be  lost.  So  two  hidalgos  were  sent  after  him,  and 
they  found  him  in  Navarre,  on  the  eve  of  passing  into  France.  But 
when  he  saw  the  King's  letters,  and  knew  the  peril  in  which  he  then 
stood,  setting  aside  the  remembrance  of  his  own  wrongs,  like  a  good 
and  true  Portuguese,  he  turned  back,  and  went  to  the  King  at  Coim- 
bra.  In  good  time  did  he  arrive,  for  the  captains  of  King  Don 
Sancho  had  now  gained  many  lands  in  Galicia  and  in  the  province 
of  Beira,  finding  none  to  resist  them,  and  the  Count  Don  Nuno  de 
Lara,  and  the  Count  of  Monzon,  and  Don  Garcia  de  Cabra,  were 
drawing  nigh  unto  Coimbra.  When  Don  Rodrigo  heard  this  and 
knew  that  the  Castilians  were  approaching,  and  who  they  were,  he 
promised  the  King  either  to  maintain  his  cause,  or  die  for  it ;  and 
he  besought  him  not  to  go  into  the  battle  himself,  having  so  many 
vassals  and  so  good ;  for  it  was  not  fitting  that  he  should  expose 
himself  when  there  was  no  King  coming  against  him.  And  it 
came  to  pass  that  when  the  scouts  gave  notice  that  the  Castilians 
were  at  hand,  he  ordered  the  trumpets  to  be  sounded,  and  the  Por- 
tuguese sallied,  and  a  little  below  the  city,  at  the  place  which  is  now 
called  Agoa  de  Mayas,  the  two  squadrons  met.  Then  was  the  say- 
ing of  Arias  Gonzalo  fulfilled,  that  kinsmen  should  kill  kinsmen,  and 
brother  fall  by  his  brother's  hand.  But  the  Portuguese  fought  so 
well,  and  especially  Don  Rodrigo,  and  his  brothers  Don  Pedro 
and  Don  Vermui  Frojaz,  that  at  length  they  discomfited  the  Cas- 


244  CIIROXICI.E    OF   THE    CID, 

tilians.  killing  of  them  five  hundred  and  forty,  of  whom  three  hun- 
dred were  knights,  and  winning  their  pennons  and  banners.  How- 
beit  this  victory  was  not  obtained  without  great  loss  to  themselves ; 
for  two  hundred  and  twenty  of  their  people  were  left  upon  the  field, 
and  many  were  sorely  wounded,  among  whom,  even  to  the  great 
peril  of  his  life,  was  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz,  being  wounded  with  many 
and  grievous  wounds.  In  this  battle  was  slain  the  Count  Don  Fafes 
Sarracem  de  Lanhoso,  with  many  of  his  vassals,  he  from  whom  the 
Ciodinhos  are  descended  :  he  was  a  right  good  knight. 

IX.  A  sorrowful  defeat  was  that  for  King  Don  Sancho,  more  for 
the  quality  of  the  slain  than  for  their  number  ;  and  he  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  his  army,  and  hastened  through  the  midst  of  Portugal, 
to  go  against  his  brother.  And  King  Don  Garcia  hearing  of  his 
approach,  called  together  his  knights  and  hidalgos,  and  said  unto 
them,  Friends,  we  have  no  land  whereunto  to  fly  from  the  King 
Don  Sancho  my  brother,  let  us  therefore  meet  him  in  battle,  and 
either  conquer  him,  or  die  ;  for  better  is  it  to  die  an  honourable 
death  than  to  suffer  this  spoiling  in  our  country.  And  to  the  Por- 
tuguese he  said.  Friends,  ye  are  right  noble  and  haughty  knights, 
and  it  is  your  custom  to  have  among  you  few  lords  and  good  ones  ; 
now  therefore  make  me  a  good  one,  which  will  be  to  your  own 
great  honour  and  profit ;  and  if  I  come  out  of  this  struggle  well,  I 
shall  guerdon  ye  well,  so  that  ye  shall  understand  the  will  I  have 
to  do  good  towards  ye.  And  they  made  answer  and  said  they 
would  stand  by  him  to  the  last,  and  that  he  should  not  be  put 
down  by  their  default.  Then  spake  he  to  the  Galegos,  and  said, 
Friends,  ye  are  right  good  and  true  knights,  and  never  was  it  yet 
said  that  lord  was  forsaken  by  you  in  the  field.  I  put  myself  in 
your  hands,  being  assured  that  ye  will  well  and  loyally  advise  me, 
and  help  me  to  the  utmost  of  your  power.  Ye  see  how  King  1  )on 
Sancho  my  brother  presses  upon  us,  and  we  have  nothing  left  us 
but  to  die  or  to  conquer ;  but  if  ye  know  any  other  counsel,  I  be- 
seech ye  tell  it  now.  And  the  Galegos  answered,  that  they  would 
serve  and  defend  him  loyally,  and  that  they  held  it  best  to  fight. 
Nevertheless  they  were  too  few  in  number  to  stand  against  the  King 
Don  Sancho  :  so  they  retired  before  him.  And  Don  Garcia  took 
with  him  three  hundred  horsemen,  and  went  to  the  Moors,  and  be- 
sought them  to  lend  him  aid  against  his  brother,  saying  that  he 
would  give  them  the  kingdom  of  Leon.  And  the  Moors  made 
answer,  O  King,  thou  canst  not  defend  thyself;  how  then  canst 
thou  giv«  unto  us  the  kingdom  of  Leon  ?  Howbeit  they  did  him 


ROD  RIG  O  DIAZ.   DE  BIVAR.  245 

honour  and  gave  him  great  gifts,  and  he  returned  to  his  people  and 
recovered  many  of  the  castles  which  he  had  lost. 

X.  Then  King  Don  Sancho  came  against  his  brother  to  besiege 
him  in  Santarem.  And  the  Portuguese  and  Galegos  took  counsel 
together  what  they  should  do  ;  for  some  were  of  advice  that  it  was 
better  to  defend  the  cities  and  fortresses  which  they  held,  and  so 
lengthen  out  the  war  ;  others  that  they  should  harass  the  army  of 
the  Castilians  with  frequent  skirmishes  and  assaults,  and  never  give 
them  battle  power  to  power,  thinking  that  in  this  manner  they  might 
baffle  them  till  the  winter  came  on.  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz  was  at 
this  time  recovering  of  the  wounds  which  he  had  received  at  Agoa 
de  Mayas,  and  he  said  unto  the  King  that  it  behoved  him  above 
all  things  to  put  his  kingdom  upon  the  hazard  of  a  battle  :  for  his 
brother  being  a  greater  lord  of  lands  than  he,  and  richer  in  money 
and  more  powerful  in  vassals,  could  maintain  the  war  longer  than 
he  could  do,  who  peradventure  would  find  it  difficult  another  year 
to  gather  together  so  good  an  army  as  he  had  now  ready.  For  this 
cause  he  advised  him  to  put  his  trust  in  God  first,  and  then  in  the 
hidalgos  who  were  with  him,  and  without  fear  give  battle  to  the 
King  his  brother,  over  whom  God  and  his  good  cause  would  give 
him  glorious  victory.  And  to  show  his  own  good  will  to  the  King, 
he  besought  of  him  the  leading  of  the  van  for  himself  and  the  Counts 
Don  Pedro  and  Don  Vermui  Frojaz  his  brethren,  and  his  two  neph- 
ews. Greatly  was  the  King  Don  Garcia  encouraged  by  his  gallant 
cheer,  and  he  bade  his  host  make  ready  to  give  battle  to  King  Don 
Sancho,  as  soon  as  he  should  arrive  ;  and  he  marched  out  from  the 
city,  and  took  his  stand  near  unto  it  in  a  field  where  afterwards  were 
the  vineyards  of  the  town.  And  when  the  banners  of  the  Castilians 
were  seen  advancing,  the  Galegos  and  Portuguese  drew  up  in  battle 
array,  Don  Rodrigo  and  his  brethren  having  the  van,  as  he  had  re- 
quested, and  a  body  of  chosen  knights  with  them. 

XL  Count  Don  Garcia  came  in  the  front  of  King  Don  Sancho's 
army,  and  in  the  one  wing  was  the  Count  de  Monzon  and  Count 
Don  Nuno  de  Lara ;  and  the  Count  Don  Fruela  of  Asturias  in  the 
other ;  and  the  King  was  in  the  rear,  with  Don  Diego  de  Osma, 
who  carried  his  banner  :  and  in  this  manner  were  they  arrayed  on 
the  one  side  and  on  the  other,  being  ready  for  the  onset.  And 
King  Don  Garcia  bravely  encouraged  his  men,  saying,  Vassals  and 
friends,  ye  see  the  great  wrong  which  the  King  my  brother  doth 
unto  me,  taking  from  me  my  kingdom  ;  I  beseech  ye  help  me  now 
to  defend  it ;  for  ye  well  know  that  all  which  I  had  therein  I  di- 
vided among  ye,  keeping  ye  for  a  season  like  this.  And  they  an- 


246  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

swered,  Great  benefits  have  we  received  at  your  hands,  and  we  will 
serve  you  to  the  utmost  of  our  power.  Now  when  the  two  hosts 
were  ready  to  join  battle,  Alvar  Fanez  came  to  King  Don  Sancho 
and  said  to  him,  Sir,  I  have  played  away  my  horse  and  arms  :  I 
beseech  you,  give  me  others  for  this  battle,  and  I  will  be  a  right 
good  one  for  you  this  day ;  if  I  do  not  for  you  the  service  of  six 
knights  hold  me  for  a  traitor.  And  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  who 
heard  this,  said  to  the  King,  Give  him,  Sir,  what  he  asketh  ;  and  the 
King  ordered  that  horse  and  arms  should  be  given  him.  So  the 
armies  joined  battle  bravely  on  both  sides,  and  it  was  a  sharp  onset ; 
many  were  the  heavy  blows  which  were  given  on  both  sides,  and 
many  were  the  horses  that  were  slain  at  that  encounter,  and  many 
the  men.  Now  my  Cid  had  not  yet  come  up  into  the  field. 

XII.  Now  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz  and  his  brethren  and  the  knights 
who  were  with  them  had  resolved  to  make  straight  for  the  banner 
of  the  King  of  Castile.  And  they  broke  through  the  ranks  of  the 
Castilians,  and  made  their  way  into  the  middle  of  the  enemy's  host. 
doing  marvellous  feats  of  arms.  Then  was  the  fight  at  the  hottest, 
for  they  did  their  best  to  win  the  banner,  and  the  others  to  defend 
it ;  the  remembrance  of  what  they  had  formerly  done,  and  the  hope 
of  gaining  more  honours  heartened  them  ;  and  with  the  Castilians 
there  was  their  King,  giving  them  brave  example  as  well  as  brave 
words.  The  press  of  the  battle  was  here  ;  here  died  ( lonzalo  de 
Sies,  a  right  valiant  Portuguese,  on  the  part  of  Don  Garcia  •  but  on 
Don  Sancho's  part  the  Count  Don  Nuno  was  sorely  wounded  and 
thrown  from  his  horse  ;  and  Count  Don  Garcia  Ordonez  was  made 
prisoner,  and  the  banner  of  King  Don  Sancho  was  beaten  down. 
and  the  King  himself  also.  The  first  who  encountered  him  was 
Don  Gomes  Echiguis,  he  from  whom  the  old  Sousas  of  Portugal 
derived  their  descent ;  he  was  the  first  who  set  his  lance  against 
King  Don  Sancho,  and  the  other  one  was  Don  Moninho  Hermigis, 
and  Don  Rodrigo  made  way  through  the  press  and  laid  hands  on  him 
and  took  him.  But  in  the  struggle  his  old  wounds  burst  open,  and 
having  received  many  new  ones  he  lost  much  blood,  and  peireiv- 
ing  that  his  strength  was  failing,  he  sent  to  call  the  King  Don  Gar- 
cia with  all  speed.  And  as  the  King  came,  the  Count  Don  Pedro 
Frojaz  met  him  and  said,  An  honourable  gift,  Sir,  hath  my  brother 
Don  Rodrigo  to  give  you,  but  you  lose  him  in  gaining  it.  And 
tears  fell  from  the  eyes  of  the  King,  and  he  made  answer  and  said, 
1 1  may  indeed  be  that  Don  Rodrigo  may  lose  his  life  in  serving  me, 
but  the  good  name  which  he  hath  gained,  and  the  honour  which  he 
leaveth  to  his  descendants,  death  cannot  take  away.  Saying  this, 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  247 

he  came  to  the  place  where  Don  Rodrigo  was,  and  Don  Rodrigo 
gave  into  his  hands  the  King  Don  Sancho  his  brother,  and  asked 
him  three  times  if  he  was  discharged  of  his  prisoner ;  and  when  the 
King  had  answered  Yes,  Don  Rodrigo  said,  For  me,  Sir,  the  joy 
which  I  have  in  your  victory  is  enough ;  give  the  rewards  to  these 
good  Portuguese,  who  with  so  good  a  will  have  put  their  lives  upon 
the  hazard  to  serve  you,  and  in  all  things  follow  their  counsel,  and 
you  will  not  err  therein.  Having  said  this  he  kissed  the  King's 
hand,  and  lying  upon  his  shield,  for  he  felt  his  breath  fail  him,  with 
his  helmet  for  a  pillow,  he  kissed  the  cross  of  his  sword  in  remem- 
brance of  that  on  which  the  incarnate  Son  of  God  had  died  for  him, 
and  rendered  up  his  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator.  This  was 
the  death  of  one  of  the  worthy  knights  of  the  world,  Don  Rodrigo 
Frojaz.  In  all  the  conquests  which  King  Don  Ferrando  had  made 
from  the  Moors  of  Portugal,  great  part  had  he  borne,  insomuch 
that  that  King  was  wont  to  say  that  other  Princes  might  have  more 
dominions  than  he,  but  two  such  knights  as  his  two  Rodrigos, 
meaning  my  Cid  and  this  good  knight,  there  was  none  but  himself 
who  had  for  vassals. 

XIII.  Then  King  Don  Garcia  being  desirous  to  be  in  the  pur- 
suit himself,  delivered  his  brother  into  the  hands  of  six  knights 
that  they  should  guard  him,  which  he  ought  not  to  have  done.  And 
when  he  was  gone  King  Don  Sancho  said  unto  the  knights,  Let 
me  go  and  I  will  depart  out  of  your  country  and  never  enter  it 
again ;  and  I  will  reward  ye  well  as  long  as  ye  live.  But  they  an- 
swered him,  that  for  no  reward  would  they  commit  such  disloyalty, 
but  would  guard  him  well,  not  offering  him  any  injury,  till  they 
had  delivered  him  to  his  brother  the  King  Don  Garcia.  While 
they  were  parleying  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya  came  up,  he  to  whom 
the'  King  had  given  horse  and  arms  before  the  battle  ;  and  he  see- 
ing the  King  held  prisoner  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  Let  loose 
my  Lord  the  King  :  and  he  spurred  his  horse  and  made  at  them  ; 
and  before  his  lance  was  broken  he  overthrew  two  of  them,  and  so 
bestirred  himself  that  he  put  the  others  to  flight ;  and  he  took  the 
horses  of  the  two  whom  he  had  smote  down,  and  gave  one  to  the 
King,  and  mounted  upon  the  other  himself,  for  his  own  was  hurt 
in  the  rescue  ;  and  they  went  together  to  a  little  rising  ground 
where  there  was  yet  a  small  body  of  the  knights  of  their  party,  and 
Alvar  Fanez  cried  out  to  them  aloud,  Ye  see  here  the  King  our 
Lord,  who  is  free  ;  now  then  remember  the  good  name  of  the 
Castilians,  and  let  us  not  lose  it  this  day.  And  about  four  hundred 
knights  gathered  about  him.  And  while  they  stood  there  they  saw 


248  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

the  Cid  Ruydiez  coming  up  with  three  hundred  knights,  for  he  had 
not  been  in  the  battle,  and  they  knew  his  green  pennon.  And 
when  King  Den  Sancho  beheld  it  his  heart  rejoiced,  and  he  said, 
Now  let  us  descend  into  the  plain,  for  he  of  good  fortune 
cometh ;  and  he  said,  Be  of  good  heart,  for  it  is  the  will  of  God 
that  I  should  recover  my  kingdom,  for  I  have  escaped  from  cap- 
tivity, and  seen  the  death  of  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz  who  took  me, 
and  Ruydiez  the  fortunate  one  cometh.  And  the  King  went  down 
to  him  and  welcomed  him  right  joyfully,  saying,  In  happy  time  are 
you  come,  my  fortunate  Cid ;  never  vassal  succoured  his  Lord  in 
such  season  as  you  now  succour  me,  for  the  King  my  brother  had 
overcome  me.  And  the  Cid  answered,  Sir,  be  sure  that  you  shall 
recover  the  day,  or  I  will  die  ;  for  wheresoever  you  go,  either  you 
shall  be  victorious  or  I  will  meet  my  death. 

XIV.  By  this  time  King  Don  Garcia  returned  from  the  pursuit, 
singing  as  he  came  full  joyfully,  for  he  thought  that  the  King  his 
brother  was  a  prisoner,  and   his  great  power  overthrown.     But 
there  came  one  and  told  him  that  Don  Sancho  was  rescued  and  in 
the  field  again,  ready  to  give  him  battle  a  second  time.     Bravely 
was  that  second  battle  fought  on  both  sides  ;  and  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  great  prowess  of  the  Cid,  the  end  would  not  have  been  as 
it  was ;  in  the  end  the  Galegos  and  Portuguese  were  discomfited, 
and  the  King  Don  Garcia  taken  in  his  turn.     And  in  that  battle 
the  two  brethren  of  Don  Rodrigo  Frojaz,  Don  Pedro  and   Don 
Vermui,  were  slain,  and  the  two  sons  of  Don   Pedro,  so  that  five 
of  that  family  died  that  day.     And  the  King  Don  Sancho  put  his 
brother  in  better  ward  than  his  brother  three  hours  before  had  put 
him,  for  he  put  him  in  chains  and  sent  him  to  the  strong  castle  of 
Luna. 

XV.  When  King  Don  Sancho  had  done  this  he  took  unto  him- 
self the  kingdom  of  Galicia  and  of  Portugal,  and  without  delay  sent 
to  his  brother  King  Don  Alfonso,  commanding  him  to  yield  up 
to  him  the  kingdom  of  Leon,  for  it  was  his  by  right.     At  this  was 
the  King  of  Leon  troubled  at  heart ;  howbeit  he  answered  that  he 
would  not  yield  up  his  kingdom,  but  do  his  utmost  to  defend  it. 
Then  King  Don  Sancho  entered  Leon,  slaying  and  laying  waste 
before  him,  as  an  army  of  infidels  would  have  done  r  and  King 
Don  Alfonso  sent  to  him  to  bid  him  cease  from  this,  for  it  was  in- 
human work  to  kill  and  plunder  the  innocent :  and  he  defied  him 
to  a  pitched  battle,  saying  that  to  whichsoever  God  should  give 
the  victory,  to  him  also  would  he  give  the  kingdom  of  Leon  :  and 
the  King  of  Castile  accepted  the  defiance,  and  a  day  was  fixed  for 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  249 

the  battle,  and  the  place  was  to  be  Lantada,  which  is  near  unto 
Carrion.  The  chief  counsellor  of  King  Don  Alfonso  was  Don  Pero 
Ansures,  a  notable  and  valiant  knight,  of  the  old  and  famous  stock 
of  the  Ansures,  Lords  of  Monzon  which  is  nigh  unto  Palencia  :  the 
same  who  in  process  of  time  was  Count  of  Carrion  and  of  Saldana 
md  Liebana,  and  Lord  of  Valladolid,  a  city  which  was  by  him 
greatly  increased.  This  good  knight  commanded  the  army  of  his 
King  Don  Alfonso,  and  on  the  part  of  King  Don  Sancho  came 
Ruydiez  the  Cid.  Both  Kings  were  in  the  field  that  day,  and  full 
hardily  was  the  battle  contested,  and  great  was  the  mortality  on 
either  side,  for  the  hatred  which  used  to  be  between  Moors  and 
Christians  was  then  between  brethren.  And  that  day  also  was  the 
saying  of  Arias  Gonzalo  fulfilled.  But  in  the  end  the  skill  and 
courage  of  my  Cid  prevailed,  and  King  Don  Alfonso  was  fain  to 
avail  himself  of  his  horse's  feet  to  save  himself. 

XVI.  Nevertheless  the  power  of  King  Don  Alfonso  was  not  yet 
destroyed,  and  he  would  not  yield  up  his  kingdom  :  and  he  sent 
to  his  brother  a  second  time  to  bid  him  battle,  saying  that  who- 
soever conquered  should  then  certainly  remain  King  of  Leon  ;  and 
the  place  appointed  was  at  Vulpegera,  beside  the  river  Carrion. 
And  the  two  armies  met  and  joined  battle,  and  they  of  Leon  had 
the  victory,  for  my  Cid  was  not  in  the  field.  And  King  Don  Alfonso 
had  pity  upon  the  Castilians  because  they  were  Christians,  and  gave 
orders  not  to  slay  them ;  and  his  brother  King  Don  Sancho  fled. 
Now  as  he  was  flying,  my  Cid  came  up  with  his  green  pennon  : 
and  when  he  saw  that  the  King  his  Lord  had  been  conquered,  it 
grieved  him  sorely :  howbeit  he  encouraged  him  saying,  This  is 
nothing,  Sir  !  to  fail  or  to  prosper  is  as  God  pleases.  But  do  you 
gather  together  your  people  who  are  discomfited,  and  bid  them 
take  heart.  The  Leonese  and  Galegos  are  with  the  King  your 
brother,  secure  as  they  think  themselves  in  their  lodging,  and  tak- 
ing no  thought  of  you  ;  for  it  is  their  custom  to  extol  themselves 
when  their  fortune  is  fair,  and  to  mock  at  others,  and  in  this  boast- 
fulness  will  they  spend  the  night,  so  that  we  shall  find  them  sleep- 
ing at  break  of  day,  and  will  fall  upon  them.  And  it  came  to  pass 
as  he  had  said.  The  Leonese  lodged  themselves  in  Vulpegera, 
taking  no  thought  of  their  enemies,  and  setting  no  watch  ;  and 
Ruydiez  arose  betimes  in  the  morning,  and  fell  upon  them,  and 
subdued  them  before  they  could  take  their  arms.  King  Don  Al- 
fonso fled  to  the  town  of  Carrion,  which  was  three  leagues  distant, 
and  would  have  fortified  himself  there  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary, 
but  he  was  surrounded  and  constrained  to  yield, 


250  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

XVII.  Now  the  knights  of  Leon  gathered  together  in  their  flight, 
and  when  they  could  not  find  the  King  they  were  greatly  ashamed, 
and  they  turned  back  and  smote  the  Castilians ;  and  as  it  befell, 
they  encountered  King  Don  Sancho  and  took  him  prisoner,  not 
having  those  in  his  company  whom  he  should  have  had,  for  his 
people  considered  the  victory  as  their  own,  and  all  was  in  confu- 
sion.    And  thirteen  knights  took  him  in  their  ward  and  were  lead- 
ing him  away,  —  but  my  Cid  beheld  them  and  galloped  after  them  ; 
he  was  alone,  and  had  no  lance,  having  broken  his  in  battle.     And 
he  came  up  to  them,  and  said,  Knights,  give  me  my  Lord  and  I 
will  give  unto  you  yours.     They  knew  him  by  his  arms,  and  they 
made  answer,  Ruydiez,  return  in  peace  and  seek  not  to  contend 
with  us,  otherwise  we  will  carry  you  away  prisoner  with  him.     And 
he  waxed  wroth  and  said,  Give  me  but  a  lance  and  I  will,  single  as 
I  am,  rescue  my  Lord  from  all  of  ye  :  by  God's  help  I  will  do  it. 
And  they  held  him  as  nothing  because  he  was  but  one,  and  gave 
him  a  lance.     But  he  attacked  them  therewith  so  bravely  that  he 
slew  eleven  of  the  thirteen,  leaving  two  only  alive,  on  whom  he  had 
mercy ;  and  thus  did  he  rescue  the  King.     And  the  Castilians  re- 
joiced greatly  at  the  King's  deliverance  :    and  King  Don  Sancho 
went  to  Burgos,  and  took  with  him  his  brother  prisoner. 

XVIII.  Great  was  the  love  which  the  Infanta  Doiia  Urraca  bore 
to  her  brother  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  when  she  heard  that  he  was 
made  prisoner,  she  feared  lest  he  should  be  put  to  death  :  and  she 
took  with  her  the  Count  Don  Peransures,  and  went  to  Burgos.    And 
they  spake  with  the  Cid,  and  besought  him  that  he  would  join  with 
them  and  intercede  with  the  King  that  he  should  release  his  brother 
from  prison,  and  let  him  become  a  Monk  at  Sahagun.     Full  willing 
was  the  Cid  to  serve  in  anything  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca,  and  he 
went  with  her  before  the  King.     And  she  knelt  down  before  the 
King  her  brother,  and  besought  mercy  for  Don  Alfonso,  his  brother 
and  hers.    And  the  King  took  her  by  the  hand  and  raised  her  from 
her  knees,  and  made  her  sit  beside  him,  and  said  unto  her,  Now  then. 
my  sister,  say  what  you  would  have.     And  she  besought  him  that 
he  would  let  their  brother  Don  Alfonso  take  the  habit  of  St.  Bene- 
dict, in  the  royal  Monastery  of  Sahagun,  and  my  Cid,  and  Count 
Peransures  and  the  other  chief  persons  who  were  there  present, 
besought  him  in  like  manner.     And  the  King  took  my  Cid  aside, 
and  asked  counsel  of  him  what  he  should  do  ;  and  the  Cid  said, 
that  if  Don  Alfonso  were  willing  to  become  a  Monk,  he  would  do 
well  to  set  him  free  upon  that  condition,  and  he  besought  him  so 
to  do.     Then  King  Don  Sancho,  at  my  Cid's  request,  granted  to 


RODKIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  251 

Dona  Urraca  what  she  had  asked.  And  he  released  King  Don 
Alfonso  from  prison,  and  Don  Alfonso  became  a  Monk  in  the  Mon- 
astery at  Sahagun,  more  by  force  than  of  free  will.  And  being  in 
the  Monastery  he  spake  with  Don  Peransures,  and  took  counsel 
with  him,  and  fled  away  by  night  from  the  Monks,  and  went  among 
the  Moors  to  King  Alimaymon  of  Toledo.  And  the  Moorish  King 
welcomed  him  with  a  good  will,  and  did  great  honour  to  him.  and 
gave  him  great  possessions  and  many  gifts. 

XIX.  When  Dona  Urraca  knew  that  her  brother  King  Don 
Alfonso  had  fled  to  Toledo,  she  sent  to  him  three  good  men  of 
the  kingdom  of  Leon,  that  they  should  be  his  counsellors,  for  she 
loved  him  well.  These  were  Don  Pero  Ansures,  and  Don  Ferran 
Ansures,  and  Don  Gonzalo  Ansures,  all  three  brethren  :  and  they 
went  with  King  Don  Sancho's  permission,  for  it  was  God's  pleasure. 
Now  Alimaymon  rejoiced  in  the  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  loved  him 
as  if  he  had  been  his  own  son.  And  Don  Alfonso  made  a  cov- 
enant with  him  to  love  him  and  defend  him  and  serve  him  aluay, 
so  long  as  he  should  remain  with  him,  and  not  to  depart  from  him 
without  his  leave  ;  and  the  King  covenanted  on  his  side  to  love 
him  and  honour  him,  and  defend  him  to  the  utmost  of  his  power. 
And  Alimaymon  ordered  fair  palaces  to  be  edified  for  him,  by  the 
wall  of  the  Alcazar,  on  the  outer  part,  that  the  Moors  of  the  city 
i night  do  no  displeasure  neither  to  him  nor  to  his  companions  : 
and  they  were  hard  by  a  garden  of  the  King's  that  he  might  go  out 
and  disport  himself  therein  whensoever  it  pleased  him.  And  for 
these  things  King  Don  Alfonso  loved  to  serve  King  Alimaymon. 
Nevertheless  when  he  saw  the  great  honour  of  the  King  of  Toledo, 
and  how  powerful  he  was  and  that  he  was  the  Lord  of  so  great 
chivalry,  and  of  the  noblest  city  which  had  belonged  unto  the 
Gothic  Kings,  from  whom  he  himself  was  descended,  it  grieved 
him  in  his  heart  to  see  that  city  in  the  hand  of  the  Moors  :  and 
he  said  within  his  heart,  I^ord  God  and  Father  Jesus  Christ,  it  is 
wholly  in  thy  power  to  give  and  to  take  away,  and  right  it  is  that 
thy  will  should  be  done,  even  as  thou  hast  done  it  to  me,  to  whom 
thou  gavest  a  kingdom,  and  it  was  thy  will  to  take  it  away  from  me, 
and  thou  hast  made  me  come  hither  to  serve  the  enemies  who 
were  at  the  service  of  the  King  my  father.  Lord,  I  put  my  hope 
in  thee  that  thou  wilt  deliver  me  from  this  servitude,  and  give 
me  a  land  and  kingdom  to  command,  and  that  thou  wilt  show 
unto  me  such  favour  that  this  land  and  this  city  shall  by  me  be 
won,  that  thy  holy  body  may  be  sacrificed  in  it  to  the  honour  c 
(  hristendom.  This  prayer  he  made  with  great  devotion  and  with 


252  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

many  tears ;  and  the  Lord  God  heard  him,  as  hereafter  you  shall 
hear  in  this  history.  In  those  days  King  Alimaymon  was  at  war 
with  other  Moorish  Kings  his  enemies,  and  King  Don  Alfonso 
fought  against  them  on  his  side,  and  did  such  good  service  that  he 
quelled  their  power,  and  they  durst  no  longer  offend  him.  And  in 
time  of  peace  Don  Alfonso  and  his  companions  went  fowling  along 
the  hanks  of  the  Tagus,  for  in  those  days  there  was  much  game 
there,  and  venison  of  all  kinds  ;  and  they  killed  venison  among 
the  mountains.  And  as  he  was  thus  sporting  he  came  to  a  place 
which  is  now  called  Brihuega,  and  it  pleased  him  well,  for  it  was  a 
fair  place  to  dwell  in,  and  abounded  with  game,  and  there  was  a 
dismantled  castle  there,  and  he  thought  that  he  would  ask  the  King 
for  this  place.  And  he  returned  to  Toledo  and  asked  it  of  the 
King,  and  King  Alimaymon  gave  it  him,  and  he  placed  there  his 
huntsmen  and  his  fowlers  who  were  Christians,  and  fortified  the 
place  as  his  own.  And  the  lineage  of  these  people  continued 
there  till  Don  Juan,  the  third  Archbishop  of  Toledo,  enlarged  it, 
and  peopled  the  parish  of  St.  Pedro. 

XX.  It  came  to  pass  after  this  that  both  the  Kings  one  day 
came  out  of  Toledo,  and  passed  over  the  bridge  of  Alcantara,  and 
went  into  the  royal  garden  to  disport  themselves  therein  and  take 
their  pleasure.  And  at  evening  Don  Alfonso  lay  down  upon  a  bed 
to  sleep,  and  King  Alimaymon  fell  in  talk  with  his  favourites  con- 
cerning his  city  of  Toledo,  how  strong  it  was  and  how  well  pro- 
vided with  all  things,  and  that  he  feared  neither  war  of  Moor  nor 
Christian  against  it ;  and  he  asked  them  if  it  could  by  any  means  be 
lost  in  war.  Then  one  of  them  answered  and  said,  Sir,  if  you  would 
not  hold  it  ill,  I  would  tell  you  how  it  might  be  lost,  and  by  no 
other  manner  in  the  world  could  it  be  so.  And  the  King  bade 
him  say  on.  And  the  favourite  then  said,  If  this  city  were  beset 
for  seven  years,  and  the  bread  and  the  wine  and  the  fruits  should 
be  cut  down  year  by  year,  it  would  be  lost  for  lack  of  food.  All 
this  King  Don  Alfonso  heard,  for  he  was  not  sleeping,  and  he  took 
good  heed  of  it.  Now  the  Moors  knew  not  that  he  was  lying 
there.  And  when  they  had  thus  spoken  Alimaymon  arose  to  walk 
in  the  palace,  and  he  saw  King  Don  Alfonso  lying  there  as  if  he 
were  sleeping  :  and  it  troubled  him,  and  he  said  to  his  favourites, 
We  did  not  heed  Alfonso  who  is  lying  there,  and  has  heard  all  that 
we  have  said.  And  the  favourites  made  answer,  Kill  him,  Sir.  But 
the  King  said,  How  shall  I  go  against  my  true  promise?  moreover 
he  sleepeth,  and  peradventure  hath  heard  nothing.  And  they  said 
to  him.  Would  you  know  whether  or  not  he  sleepeth?  and  he  an- 


KODRICO   DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  253 

swered,  Yea  :  and  they  said,  Go  then  and  wake  him,  and  if  Jie  have 
drivelled  he  hath  slept,  but  if  not  he  hath  been  awake  and  hath 
heard  us.  Then  King  Don  Alfonso  immediately  wetted  the  pil- 
low, and  feigned  hard  to  be  awakened,  so  that  Alimaymon  thought 
he  slept. 

XXI.  And  when  the  Easter  of  the  Sheep }  was  come,  which  the 
Moors  celebrate,  the  King  of  Toledo  went  out  of  the  city  to  kill  the 
sheep  at  the  place  accustomed,  as  he  was  wont  to  do,  and  King 
Don  Alfonso  went  with  him.  Now  Don  Alfonso  was  a  goodly 
personage  and  of  fair  demeanour,  so  that  the  Moors  liked  him  well. 
And  as  he  was  going  by  the  side  of  the  King,  two  honourable 
Moors  followed  them,  and  the  one  said  unto  the  other,  How  fair  a 
knight  is  this  Christian,  and  of  what  good  customs  !  well  doth  he 
deserve  to  be  the  lord  of  some  great  land.  And  the  other  made 
answer,  I  dreamed  a  dream  last  night,  that  this  Alfonso  entered 
the  city  riding  upon  a  huge  boar,  and  many  swine  after  him,  who 
rooted  up  all  Toledo  with  their  snouts,  and  even  the  Mosques 
therein.  Certes,  he  will  one  day  become  King  of  Toledo.  And 
while  they  were  thus  communing  every  hair  upon  King  Don  Al- 
fonso's head  stood  up  erect,  and  Alimaymon  laid  his  hand  upon 
them  to  press  them  down,  but  so  soon  as  his  hand  was  taken  off 
they  rose  again  :  and  the  two  Moors  held  it  for  a  great  token,  and 
spake  with  each  other  concerning  it,  and  one  of  King  Alimaymon's 
favourites  heard  all  which  they  said.  And  after  the  sheep  had  been 
sacrificed  they  returned  into  the, city,  and  the  favourite  told  the 
King  what  he  had  heard  the  two  Moors  say ;  and  the  King  sent  for 
them  forthwith,  and  questioned  them,  and  they  repeated  to  him 
what  they  had  said,  even  as  ye  have  heard.  And  King  Alimaymon 
said  unto  them,  What  then  shall  I  do  ?  and  they  made  answer,  that 
he  should  put  Don  Alfonso  to  death ;  but  the  King  replied,  that 
this  he  would  not  do,  nor  do  against  the  true  promise  which  he  had 
given  him,  but  that  he  would  so  deal  that  no  evil  should  ever  come 
towards  himself  from  Alfonso.  So  he  sent  for  Don  Alfonso  and 
bade  him  swear  that  he  would  never  come  against  him,  nor  against 
his  sons,  and  that  no  evil  should  come  against  them  from  him  ;  and 
King  Don  Alfonso  did  as  Alimaymon  required,  and  did  him  hom- 
age to  this  effect.  And  thenceforth  was  the  King  of  Toledo  more 
secure  of  him,  and  held  him  even  in  greater  favour  than  before.  All 
this  while  did  King  Don  Alfonso  govern  himself  by  the  advice  of 
Count  Peransures,  who  alway  advised  him  discreetly  and  well. 

1  The  Bairem  of  the  Turks,  on  which  a  sheep  was  sacrificed. 


254  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

XXI J.  But  when  King  Don  Sancho  heard  how  his  brother  had 
fled  from  the  Monastery,  he  drew  out  his  host  and  went  against  the 
'.;ity  Oi  Leon.  The  Leonese  would  fain  have  maintained  the  city 
Against  him,  but  they  could  not,  and  he  took  the  city  of  Leon,  and 
ill  the  towns  and  castles  which  had  been  under  the  dominion  of  his 
urother  King  Don  Alfonso.  And  then  he  put  the  crown  upon  his 
nead,  and  called  himself  King  of  the  three  kingdoms.  He  was 
a  fair  knight  and  of  marvellous  courage,  so  that  both  Moors  and 
Christians  were  dismayed  at  what  they  saw  him  do,  for  they  saw 
that  nothing  which  he  willed  to  take  by  force  could  stand  against 
him.  And  when  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca,  and  the  men  of  Zamo- 
ra,  saw  that  he  had  quiet  possession  of  both  his  brothers'  kingdoms 
they  feared  that  he  would  come  against  them  and  disherit  his  sis- 
ter also.  And  for  this  reason  they  took  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  to  be 
their  chief  captain,  Dona  Urraca's  foster-father,  that  by  his  means 
they  might  protect  themselves,  if  need  should  be.  And  it  came  to 
pass  as  they  had  feared,  for  King  Don  Sancho  knew  that  his  sis- 
ters greatly  loved  Don  Alfonso,  and  he  thought  that  by  their  coun- 
sel he  had  fled  from  the  Monastery,  especially  by  Dona  LTrraca's, 
because  Don  Alfonso  guided  himself  in  all  things  by  her  counsel, 
holding  her  in  place  of  a  mother,  for  she  was  a  lady  of  great  un- 
derstanding. And  he  went  forth  with  his  army,  and  took  from  the 
Infanta  Dona  Elvira  the  half  of  the  Infantazgo  which  she  possessed, 
and  also  from  Dona  Urraca  the  other  half.  And  he  went  against 
Toro,  the  city  of  Dona  Elvira,  and  took  it ;  and  then  he  went  to 
Zamora  to  Dona  Urraca,  bidding  her  yield  him  up  the  city,  and 
saying  that  he  would  give  her  lands  as  much  as  she  required  in  the 
plain  country.  But  she  returned  for  answer,  that  she  would  in  no 
manner  yield  unto  him  that  which  the  King  her  father  had  given 
her ;  and  she  besought  him  that  he  would  suffer  her  to  continue  to 
dwell  peaceably  therein,  saying  that  no  disservice  should  ever  be 
done  against  him  on  her  part. 

XXIII.  Then  King  Don  Sancho  went  to  Burgos,  because  it  was 
not  the  season  for  besieging  a  town,  being  winter.  And  he  sent 
his  letters  through  all  the  land,  calling  upon  his  vassals  to  assem- 
ble together  upon  the  first  day  of  March  in  Sahagun,  upon  pain  of 
forfeiting  his  favour.  Now  though  the  King  was  yet  but  a  young 
man,  whose  beard  was  but  just  coming,  he  was  of  so  great  courage 
that  the  people  feared  him,  and  dared  not  do  otherwise  than  as  he 
commanded.  And  they  assembled  together  in  Sahagun  on  the  day 
appointed ;  and  when  the  King  heard  in  what  readiness  they  were, 
it  gladdened  him,  and  he  lifted  up  his  hands  to  God  and  said, 


KODRIGO  DIAZ  DK  Bll'AR.  255 

Blessed  be  thy  name,  O  Lord,  because  thou  hast  given  me  all  the 
kingdoms  of  my  father.  And  when  he  had  said  this  he  ordered 
proclamation  to  be  made  through  the  streets  of  Burgos,  that  all 
should  go  forth  to  protect  the  host  and  the  body  of  the  King  their 
Lord.  And  the  day  in  which  they  left  Burgos  they  took  up  their 
lodging  at  Fromesta ;  and  the  next  day  they  came  to  Carrion,  but 
the  King  would  not  lodge  there,  and  he  went  on  to  Sahagun,  where 
the  army  awaited  him,  and  took  up  his  lodging  without  the  town  ; 
and  on  the  following  morning  he  bade  the  host  advance,  and  they 
made  such  speed  that  in  three  days  they  arrived  before  Zamora, 
and  pitched  their  tents  upon  the  banks  of  the  Douro ;  and  he 
ordered  proclamation  to  be  made  throughout  the  host  that  no 
harm  should  be  done  until  he  had  commanded  it.  And  he 
mounted  on  horseback  with  his  hidalgos  and  rode  round  the  town, 
and  beheld  how  strongly  it  was  situated  upon  a  rock,  with  strong 
walls,  and  many  and  strong  towers,  and  the  river  Douro  running  at 
the  foot  thereof;  and  he  said  unto  his  knights,  Ye  see  how  strong 
it  is,  neither  Moor  nor  Christian  can  prevail  against  it ;  if  I  could 
have  it  from  my  sister  either  for  money  or  exchange,  I  should  be 
Ix)rd  of  Spain. 

XXIV.  Then  the  King  returned  to  his  tents,  and  incontinently 
he  sent  for  the  Cid,  and  said  unto  him,  Cid,  you  well  know  how 
manifoldly  you  are  bound  unto  me,  both  by  nature,  and  by  reason 
of  the  breeding  which  the  King  my  father  gave  you  ;  and  when  he 
died  he  commended  you  to  me,  and  I  have  ever  shown  favour  unto 
you,  and  you  have  ever  served  me  as  the  loyalest  vassal  that  ever 
did  service  to  his  Lord ;  and  I  have  for  your  good  deserts  given 
unto  you  more  than  there  is  in  a  great  county,  and  have  made  you 
the  chief  of  all  my  household.  Now  therefore  I  beseech  you  as 
my  friend  and  true  vassal,  that  you  go  to  Zamora  to  my  sister 
Dona  Urraca,  and  say  unto  her  again,  that  I  beseech  her  to  give 
me  the  town  either  for  a  price,  or  in  exchange,  and  I  will  give  to 
her  Medina  de  Rio-seco,  with  the  whole  Infantazgo,  from  Villal- 
pando  to  Valladolid,  and  Tiedra  also,  which  is  a  good  Castle ;  and 
I  will  swear  unto  her,  with  twelve  knights  of  my  vassals,  never  to 
break  this  covenant  between  us  ;  but  if  she  refuseth  to  do  this  I 
will  take  away  the  town  from  her  by  force.  And  my  Cid  kissed 
the  hand  of  the  King  and  said  unto  him,  This  bidding,  Sir,  should 
be  for  other  messenger,  for  it  is  a  heavy  thing  for  me  to  deliver  it ; 
for  I  was  brought  up  in  Zamora  by  your  father's  command,  in  the 
house  of  Don  Arias  Gonzalo,  with  Dona  Urraca  and  with  his  sons, 
and  it  is  not  fitting  that  I  should  be  the  bearer  of  such  bidding. 


256  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

And  the  King  persisted  in  requiring  of  him  that  he  should  go,  in- 
somuch that  he  was  constrained  to  obey  his  will.  And  he  took 
with  him  fifteen  of  his  knights  and  rode  towards  Zamora,  and  when 
he  drew  nigh  he  called  unto  those  who  kept  guard  in  the  towers 
not  to  shoot  their  arrows  at  him,  for  he  was  Ruydiez  of  Bivar, 
who  came  to  Dona  Urraca  with  the  bidding  of  her  brother  Kini; 
Don  Sancho.  With  that  there  came  down  a  knight  who  was  neph- 
ew to  Arias  Gonzalo,  and  had  the  keeping  of  the  gate,  and  he  bade 
the  Cid  enter,  saying  that  he  would  order  him  to  be  well  lodged 
while  he  went  to  Dona  Urraca  to  know  if  she  would  be  pleased  to 
see  him.  So  the  Cid  went  in,  and  the  knight  went  to  the  Infanta, 
and  told  her  that  Ruydiez  of  Bivar  was  come  with  a  message  from 
King  Don  Sancho  ;  and  it  pleased  her  well  that  he  should  be  the 
messenger,  and  she  bade  him  come  before  her  that  she  might  know 
what  was  his  bidding ;  and  she  sent  Arias  Gonzalo  and  the  other 
knights  of  her  party  to  meet  him  and  accompany  him.  And  when 
the  Cid  entered  the  palace  Dona  Urraca  advanced  to  meet  him,  and 
greeted  him  full  well,  and  they  seated  themselves  both  upon  the 
Estrado.  And  Dona  Urraca  said  unto  him,  Cid,  you  well  know 
that  you  were  brought  up  with  me  here  in  Zamora,  in  the  house  of 
Don  Arias  Gonzalo,  and  when  my  father  was  at  the  point  of  death 
he  charged  you  that  you  should  alway  counsel  his  sons  the  best 
you  could.  Now  therefore  tell  me  I  beseech  you  what  is  it  which 
my  brother  goes  about  to  do,  now  that  he  has  called  up  all  Spain 
in  arms,  and  to  what  lands  he  thinks  to  go,  whether  against  Moors 
or  Christians.  Then  the  Cid  answered  and  said,  Lady,  to  mes- 
senger and  a  letter  no  wrong  should  be  done ;  give  me  safe  assur- 
ance and  I  will  tell  unto  you  that  which  the  King  your  brother  hath 
sent  me  to  say.  And  she  said  she  would  do  as  Don  Arias  Gonzalo 
should  advise  her.  And  Don  Arias  answered  that  it  was  well  to 
hear  what  the  King  her  brother  had  sent  to  say.  Peradventure, 
said  he,  he  goeth  against  the  Moors,  and  requires  aid  of  you,  which 
it  would  be  right  to  give  ;  and  for  such  service  I  and  my  sons  would 
go  with  him,  and  I  would  give  fifteen  of  my  people  well  mounted 
and  armed,  and  supply  them  with  food  for  ten  years,  if  he  needed 
them.  Dona  Urraca  then  said  to  the.  Cid,  that  he  might  speak 
his  bidding  safely.  Then  said  my  Cid,  the  King  your  brother  sends 
to  greet  you,  and  beseeches  you  to  give  him  this  town  of  Zamora, 
either  for  a  price  or  in  exchange ;  and  he  will  give  to  you  Medina 
de  Rio-seco,  with  the  whole  Infantazgo,  from  Villalpando  to  Val- 
ladolid,  and  the  good  castle  of  Tiedra,  and  he  will  swear  unto 
you,  with  twelve  knights  his  vassals,  never  to  do  you  hurt  or  harm  ; 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAK.  257 

but  if  you  will  not  give  him  the  town,  he  will  take  it  against  your 
will. 

XXV.  When  Dona  Urraca  heard  this  she  was  sorely  grieved, 
and  in  her  great  sorrow  she  lamented  aloud,  saying,  Wretch  that  I 
am,  many  are  the  evil  messages  which  I  have  heard  since  my 
father's  death  !  He  hath  disherited  my  brother  King  Don  Garcia 
of  his  kingdom,  and  taken  him,  and  now  holds  him  in  irons  as  if 
he  were  a  thief  or  a  Moor :  and  he  hath  taken  his  lands  from  my 
brother  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  forced  him  to  go  among  the  Moors, 
and  live  there  exiled  as  if  he  had  been  a  traitor ;  and  would  let 
none  go  with  him  except  Don  Peransures  and  his  brethren,  whom 
I  sent :  and  he  hath  taken  her  lands  from  my  sister  Dona  Elvira 
against  her  will,  and  now  would  he  take  Zamora  from  me  also  ! 
Now  then  let  the  earth  open  and  swallow  me,  that  I  may  not  see 
so  many  troubles  !  And  with  that,  in  her  strong  anger  against  her 
brother  King  Don  Sancho,  she  said,  I  am  a  woman,  and  well  know 
that  I  cannot  strive  with  him  in  battle ;  but  I  will  have  him  slain 
either  secretly  or  openly.  Then  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  stood  up  and 
said,  Lady  Dona  Urraca,  in  thus  complaining  and  making  lamen- 
tation you  do  inconsiderately ;  for  in  time  of  trouble  it  befits  us  to 
take  thought  of  what  best  is  to  be  done,  and  so  must  we  do.  Now 
then,  Lady,  give  order  that  all  the  men  of  Zamora  assemble  in  St. 
Salvador's  and  know  of  them  whether  they  will  hold  with  you, 
seeing  that  your  father  gave  them  to  you  to  be  your  vassals.  And 
if  they  will  hold  with  you,  then  give  not  you  up  the  town,  neither 
for  a  price,  nor  in  exchange  ;  but  if  they  will  not,  let  us  then  go  to 
Toledo  among  the  Moors,  where  your  brother  King  Don  Alfonso 
abideth.  And  she  did  as  her  foster-father  had  advised,  and  it  was 
proclaimed  through  the  streets  that  the  men  of  Zamora  should 
meet  in  council  at  St.  Salvador's.  And  when  they  were  all  as- 
sembled, Dona  Urraca  arose  and  said,  Friends  and  vassals,  ye  have 
seen  how  my  brother  King  Don  Sancho  hath  disherited  all  his 
brethren,  against  the  oath  which  he  made  to  the  King  my  father, 
and  now  he  would  disherit  me  also.  He  hath  sent  to  bid  me 
give  him  Zamora,  either  for  a  price  or  in  exchange.  Now  con- 
cerning this  I  would  know  whereunto  ye  advise  me,  and  if  you 
will  hold  with  me  as  good  vassals  and  true,  for  he  saith  that  he  will 
take  it  from  me  whether  I  will  or  no  ;  but  if  ye  will  keep  my  career 
I  think  to  defend  it  by  God's  mercy  and  with  your  help.  Then 
by  command  of  the  council  there  rose  up  a  knight  who  was  called 
Don  Nuno,  a  man  of  worth,  aged,  and  of  fair  speech ;  and  he 
said,  God  reward  you,  Lady,  this  favour  which  you  have  shown  us 


258  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

in  thinking  good  to  come  to  our  council,  for  we  are  your  vassals, 
and  should  do  what  you  command.  And  we  beseech  you  give  not 
up  Zamora,  neither  for  price  nor  for  exchange,  for  he  who  be- 
sieges you  upon  the  rock  would  soon  drive  you  from  the  plain. 
The  council  of  Zamora  will  do  your  bidding,  and  will  not  desert 
you  neither  for  trouble  nor  for  danger  which  may  befall  them, 
even  unto  death.  Sooner,  Lady,  will  we  expend  all  our  posses- 
sions, and  eat  our  mules  and  horses,  yea  sooner  feed  upon  our 
children  and  our  wives,  than  give  up  Zamora,  unless  by  your  com- 
mand. And  they  all  with  one  accord  confirmed  what  Don  Nuno 
had  said.  When  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca  heard  this  she  was  well 
pleased,  and  praised  them  greatly ;  and  she  turned  to  the  Cid  and 
said  unto  him,  You  were  bred  up  with  me  in  this  town  of  Zamora, 
where  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  fostered  you  by  command  of  the  King 
my  father,  and  through  your  help  it  was  that  the  King  my  father 
gave  it  unto  me  to  be  my  inheritance.  I  beseech  you  help  me 
now  against  my  brother,  and  entreat  him  that  he  will  not  seek  to 
disinherit  me  ;  but  if  he  will  go  on  with  what  he  hath  begun,  say- 
to  him  that  I  will  rather  die  with  the  men  of  Zamora,  and  they 
with  me,. than  give  him  up  the  town,  either  for  price  or  exchange. 
And  with  this  answer  did  the  Cid  return  unto  the  King. 

XXVI.  When  King  Don  Sancho  heard  what  the  Cid  said,  his 
anger  kindled  against  him,  and  he  said,  You  have  given  this  council 
to  my  sister  because  you  were  bred  up  with  her.  And  my  Cid 
answered  and  said,  Faithfully  have  I  discharged  your  bidding,  and 
as  a  true  vassal.  Howbeit,  O  King,  I  will  not  bear  arms  against  the 
Infanta  your  sister,  nor  against  Zamora,  because  of  the  days  which 
are  past ;  —  and  I  beseech  you  do  not  persist  in  doing  this  wrong. 
But  then  King  Don  Sancho  was  more  greatly  incensed,  and  he  said 
unto  him,  If  it  were  not  that  my  father  left  you  commended  to  me, 
I  would  order  you  this  instant  to  be  hanged.  But  for  this  which 
you  have  said  I  command  you  to  quit  my  kingdom  within  nine  days. 
And  the  Cid  went  to  his  tent  in  anger,  and  called  for  his  kinsmen 
and  his  friends,  and  bade  them  make  ready  on  the  instant  to  depart 
with  him.  And  he  set  forth  with  all  the  knights  and  esquires  of  his 
table,  and  with  all  their  retainers  horse  and  foot,  twelve  hundred 
persons,  all  men  of  approved  worth,  a  goodly  company  ;  —  and  they 
took  the  road  to  Toledo,  meaning  to  join  King  Don  Alfonso  among 
the  Moors.  And  that  night  they  slept  at  Castro  Nuno.  But  when 
the  Counts  and  Ricos-omes,  and  the  other  good  men  of  the  host 
saw  this,  they  understood  the  great  evil  and  disservice  which  might 
arise  to  the  King,  and  to  the  land,  from  the  departure  of  the  Cid, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  259 

who  went  away  in  wrath.  And  they  went  to  the  King  and  said 
unto  him,  Sir,  wherefore  would  you  lose  so  good  a  vassal,  who  has 
done  you  such  great  service  ?  If  he  should  go  unto  your  brother 
Don  Alfonso  among  the  Moors,  he  would  not  let  you  besiege  this 
city  thus  in  peace.  And  the  King  perceived  that  they  spake  rightly, 
and  he  called  for  Don  Diego  Ordonez,  the  Son  of  Count  Don  Ber- 
mudo,  who  was  the  son  of  the  Infante  Don  Ordono  of  Leon,  and 
hade  him  follow  the  Cid,  and  beseech  him  in  his  name  to  return; 
and  whatever  covenant  he  should  make  it  should  be  confirmed 
unto  him  ;  and  of  this  he  ordered  his  letters  of  credence  to  be  made 
out.  And  Don  Diego  Ordonez  went  to  horse,  and  rode  after  the 
Cid,  and  overtook  him  between  Castro  Nuno  and  Medina  del  Cam- 
po.  And  when  it  was  told  unto  the  Cid  that  Don  Diego  Ordonez 
was  coming,  he  turned  to  meet  him,  and  greeted  him  well,  and 
asked  him  wherefore  he  was  come.  And  he  delivered  the  King's 
.bidding,  and  showed  unto  him  his  letters  of  credence,  and  said 
unto  him  that  the  King  besought  him  not  to  bear  in  mind  the  words 
which  he  had  spoken  unto  him,  being  in  anger.  Then  the  Cid  called 
together  his  kinsmen  and  friends,  and  asked  them  what  they  should 
do.  And  they  counselled  him  that  he  should  return  to  the  King, 
for  it  was  better  to  remain  in  his  land  and  serve  God,  than  to  go 
among  the  Moors.  And  he  held  their  counsel  good,  and  called  for 
Don  Diego,  and  said  unto  him  that  he  would  do  the  will  of  the 
King :  and  Don  Diego  sent  to  the  King  to  tell  him  how  he  had 
sped.  And  when  the  Cid  drew  nigh  unto  the  host,  the  King  went 
out  with  five  hundred  knights  to  -meet  him,  and  received  him  gladly, 
and  did  him  great  honour.  And  the  Cid  kissed  his  hand  and  asked 
him  if  he  confirmed  what  Don  Diego  had  said ;  and  the  King  con- 
firmed it  before  all  the  knights  who  were  there  present,  promising 
to  give  him  great  possessions.  And  when  they  came  to  the  army 
great  was  the  joy  because  of  the  Cid's  return,  and  great  were  the 
rejoicings  which  were  made  :  but  as  great  was  the  sorrow  in  Zamora, 
for  they  who  were  in  the  town  held  that  the  siege  was  broken  up 
by  his  departure.  Nevertheless  my  Cid  would  not  bear  arms  against 
the  Infanta,  nor  against  the  town  of  Zamora,  because  of  the  days 
which  were  past. 

XXVII.  And  the  King  ordered  proclamation  to  be  made  through- 
out the  host  that  the  people  should  make  ready  to  attack  the  town. 
And  they  fought  against  it  three  days  and  three  nights  so  bravely 
that  all  the  ditches  were  filled  up,  and  the  barbicans  thrown  down, 
and  they  who  were  within  fought  sword  in  hand  with  those  without, 
and  the  waters  of  the  Douro,  as  they  past  below  the  town,  were  all 


260  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

discoloured  with  blood.  And  when  Count  Don  Garcia  de  Cabra 
saw  the  great  loss  which  they  were  suffering,  it  grieved  him  ;  and 
he  went  unto  the  King  and  told  him  that  many  men  were  slain,  and 
advised  him  to  call  off  the  host  that  they  should  no  longer  fight 
against  the  town,  but  hold  it  besieged,  for  by  famine  it  might  soon 
be  taken.  Then  the  King  ordered  them  to  draw  back,  and  he  sent 
to  each  camp  to  know  how  many  men  had  died  in  the  attack,  and 
the  number  was  found  to  be  a  thousand  and  thirty.  And  when  the 
King  knew  this  he  was  greatly  troubled  for  the  great  loss  which  he 
had  received,  and  he  ordered  the  town  to  be  beleaguered  round 
about,  and  in  this  manner  he  begirt  it,  that  none  could  enter  into 
it,  neither  go  out  therefrom  ;  and  there  was  a  great  famine  within 
the  town.  And  when  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  saw  the  misery,  and  the 
hunger,  and  the  mortality  which  were  there,  he  said  to  the  Infanta 
Dona  Urraca,  You  see,  Lady,  the  great  wretchedness  which  the 
people  of  Zamora  have  suffered,  and  do  every  day  suffer  to  main- 
tain their  loyalty ;  now  then  call  together  the  Council,  and  thank 
them  truly  for  what  they  have  done  for  you,  and  bid  them  give  up 
the  town  within  nine  days  to  the  King  your  brother.  And  we,  Lady, 
will  go  to  Toledo  to  your  brother  King  Don  Alfonso,  for  we  cannot 
defend  Zamora  ;  King  Don  Sancho  is  of  so  great  heart  and  so  reso- 
lute, that  he  will  never  break  up  the  siege,  and  I  do  not  hold  it  good 
that  you  should  abide  here  longer.  And  Dona  Urraca  gave  orders 
that  the  good  men  of  Zamora  should  meet  together  in  Council  ; 
and  she  said  unto  them,  Friends,  ye  well  see  the  resoluteness 
of  King  Don  Sancho  my  brother;  and  already  have  ye  suffered 
much  evil  and  much  wretchedness  for  doing  right  and  loyally,  los- 
ing kinsmen  and  friends  in  my  service.  Ye  have  done  enough,  and 
I  do  not  hold  it  good  that  ye  should  perish  ;  I  command  ye  there- 
fore give  up  the  town  to  him  within  nine  days,  and  I  will  go  to  To- 
ledo to  my  brother  King  Don  Alfonso.  The  men  of  Zamora  when 
they  heard  this  had  great  sorrow,  because  they  had  endured  the 
siege  so  long,  and  must  now  give  up  the  town  at  last ;  and  they 
determined  all  to  go  with  the  Infanta,  and  not  remain  in  the  town. 
XXVIII.  When  Vellido  Dolfos  heard  this,  he  went  to  Dona 
Urraca  and  said,  Lady,  I  came  here  to  Zamora  to  do  you  service 
with  thirty  knights,  all  well  accoutred,  as  you  know ;  and  I  have 
served  you  long  time,  and  never  have  I  had  from  you  guerdon  for 
my  service,  though  I  have  demanded  it ;  but  now  if  you  will  grant 
my  demand  I  will  relieve  Zamora,  and  make  King  Don  Sancho 
break  up  the  siege.  Then  said  Dona  Urraca,  Vellido,  I  shall  re- 
peat to  thee  the  saying  of  the  wise  man,  A  man  bargains  well  with 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  261 

the  slothful  and  with  him  who  is  in  need ;  and  thus  you  would  deal 
with  me.  I  do  not  bid  thee  commit  any  evil  thing,  if  such  thou 
hast  in  thy  thought ;  but  I  say  unto  you,  that  there  is  not  a  man 
in  the  world  to  whom  if  he  should  relieve  Zamora,  and  make  the 
King  my  brother  raise  the  siege,  I  would  not  grant  whatsoever  he 
might  require.  And  when  Vellido  heard  this  he  kissed  her  hand, 
and  went  to  a  porter  who  kept  one  of  the  gates  of  the  town,  and 
spake  with  him,  saying,  that  he  should  open  the  gate  unto  him 
when  he  saw  him  flying  toward  it,  and  he  gave  him  his  cloak. 
Then  went  he  to  his  lodging  and  armed  himself,  and  mounted  his 
horse,  and  rode  to  the  house  of  Don  Arias  Gonzalo,  and  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  We  all  know  the  reason,  Don  Arias  Gonzalo, 
why  you  will  not  let  Dona  Urraca  exchange  Zamora  with  her 
brother ;  it  is  because  you  deal  with  her  as  with  a  harlot,  like  an 
old  traitor.  When  Arias  Gonzalo  heard  this,  it  grieved  him  to  the 
heart,  and  he  said,  In  an  evil  day  was  I  born,  that  so  shameful  a 
falsehood  as  this  should  be  said  to  me  in  mine  old  age,  and  there 
should  be  none  to  revenge  me  !  Then  his  sons  arose  and  armed 
themselves  hastily,  and  went  after  Vellido,  who  fled  before  them 
toward  the  gate  of  the  town.  The  porter  when  he  saw  him  com- 
ing opened  the  gate,  and  he  rode  out  and  galloped  into  the  cr.mf 
of  the  King  Don  Sancho,  and  the  others  followed  him  tili  \ney 
were  nigh  the  camp,  but  farther  they  did  not  venture.  And  Vel- 
lido went  to  the  King  and  kissed  his  hand,  and  said  unto  him  these 
false  words  with  a  lying  tongue-:  Sir,  because  I  said  to  the  Coun- 
cil of  Zamora  that  they  should  yield  the  town  unto  you,  the  sons  of 
Arias  Gonzalo  would  have  slain  me,  even  as  you  have  seen.  And 
therefore  come  I  to  you,  Sir,  and  will  be  your  vassal,  if  I  may  find 
favour  at  your  hands.  And  I  will  show  you  how  in  a  few  days  you 
may  have  Zamora,  if  God  pleases  ;  and  if  I  do  not  as  I  have  said, 
then  let  me  be  slain.  And  the  King  believed  all  that  he  said,  and 
received  him  for  his  vassal,  and  did  him  great  honour.  And  all 
that  night  they  talked  together  of  his  secrets,  and  he  made  the 
King  believe  that  he  knew  a  postern  by  means  of  which  he  would 
put  Zamora  into  his  hands. 

XXIX.  On  the  morrow  in  the  morning,  one  of  the  knights  who 
were  in  the  town  went  upon  the  wall,  and  cried  out  with  a  loud 
voice,  so  that  the  greater  part  of  the  host  heard  him,  King  Don 
Sancho,  give  ear  to  what  I  say ;  I  am  a  knight  and  hidalgo,  a  na- 
tive of  the  land  of  Santiago ;  and  they  from  whom  I  spring  were 
true  men  and  delighted  in  their  loyalty,  and  I  also  will  live  and  die 
in  my  truth.  Give  ear,  for  I  would  undeceive  you,  and  tell  you 


262  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

the  truth,  if  you  will  believe  me.  I  say  unto  you,  that  from  this 
town  of  Zamora  there  is  gone  forth  a  traitor  to  kill  you ;  his  name 
is  Vellido  Dolfos ;  he  is  the  son  of  Adolfo,  who  slew  Don  Nuno 
like  a  traitor,  and  the  grandson  of  Laino,  another  traitor,  who 
killed  his  gossip  and  threw  him  into  the  river ;  and  this  is  as  great 
a  traitor  as  the  rest  of  his  race  ;  look  to  yourself  therefore  and  take 
heed  of  him.  I  say  this  to  you,  that  if  peradventure  evil  should 
befall  you  by  this  traitor,  it  may  not  be  said  in  Spain  that  you  were 
not  warned  against  him.  Now  the  name  of  this  knight  was  Bernal 
Dianez  de  Ocampo.  And  the  men  of  Zamora  sent  also  to  the 
King  to  bid  him  beware  of  Vellido,  and  the  King  took  their  warn- 
ing in  good  part,  and  sent  to  say  unto  them,  that  when  he  had  the 
town  he  would  deal  bountifully  with  them,  for  this  which  they  had 
done ;  nevertheless  he  gave  no  heed  to  the  warning.  And  Vellido. 
when  he  heard  this  went  to  the  King,  and  said,  Sir,  the  old  Arias 
Gonzalo  is  full  crafty,  and  hath  sent  to  say  this  unto  you,  because 
he  knows  that  by  my  means  you  would  have  won  the  town. 
And  he  called  for  his  horse,  feigning  that  he  would  depart  because 
of  what  had  been  said.  But  the  King  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
said,  Friend  and  vassal,  take  no  thought  for  this ;  I  say  unto  you, 
that  if  I  may  have  Zamora,  I  will  make  you  chief  therein,  even  as 
Arias  Gonzalo  is  now.  Then  Vellido  kissed  his  hand  and  said, 
God  grant  you  life,  Sir,  for  many  and  happy  years,  and  let  you 
fulfil  what  you  desire.  But  the  traitor  had  other  thoughts  in  his 
heart. 

XXX.  After  this  Vellido  took  the  King  apart  and  said  to  him. 
If  it  please  you,  Sir,  let  us  ride  out  together  alone ;  we  will  go 
round  Zamora,  and  see  the  trenches  which  you  have  ordered  to  be 
made ;  and  I  will  show  unto  you  the  postern  which  is  called  the 
Queen's,  by  which  we  may  enter  the  town,  for  it  is  never  closed. 
When  it  is  night  you  shall  give  me  a  hundred  knights  who  are 
hidalgos,  well  armed,  and  we  will  go  on  foot,  and  the  Zamorans 
because  they  are  weak  with  famine  and  misery,  will  let  us  conquer 
them,  and  we  will  enter  and  open  the  gate,  and  keep  it  open  till 
all  your  host  shall  have  entered  in  ;  and  thus  shall  we  win  the  town 
of  Zamora.  The  King  believed  what  he  said,  and  they  took  horse 
and  went  riding  round  the  town,  and  the  King  looked  at  the  trenches. 
and  that  traitor  showed  him  the  postern  whereof  he  had  spoken. 
And  after  they  had  ridden  round  the  town  the  King  alighted 
upon  the  side  of  the  Douro  ;  now  he  carried  in  his  hand  a  light 
hunting  spear  which  was  gilded  over,  even  such  as  the  Kings  from 


ROD  RIG  O  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  263 

whom  he  was  descended  were  wont  to  bear ;  and  he  gave  this  to 
Vellido  to  hold  it  while  he  went  aside,  to  cover  his  feet.  And 
Vellido  Dolfos,  when  he  saw  him  in  that  guise,  took  the  hunting 
spear  and  thrust  it  between  his  shoulders,  so  that  it  went  through 
him  and  came  out  at  his  breast.  And  when  he  had  stricken  him 
he  turned  the  reins  and  rode  as  fast  as  he  could  toward  the  pos- 
tern ;  this  was  not  the  first  treason  which  he  had  committed,  for 
he  had  killed  the  Count  Don  Nuno  treacherously.  Now  it  chanced 
that  the  Cid  saw  him  riding  thus,  and  asked  him  wherefore  he  fled, 
and  he  would  not  answer ;  and  then  the  Cid  understood  that  he 
had  done  some  treason,  and  his  heart  misgave  him  that  he  had 
slain  the  King ;  and  he  called  in  haste  for  his  horse,  but  while 
they  were  bringing  it,  Vellido  had  ridden  far  away ;  and  the  Cid 
being  eager  to  follow  him,  took  only  his  lance  and  did  not  wait  to 
have  his  spurs  buckled  on.  And  he  followed  him  to  the  postern 
and  had  well  nigh  overtaken  him,  but  Vellido  got  in ;  and  then  the 
Cid  said '  in  his  anger,  Cursed  be  the  knight  who  ever  gets  on 
horseback  without  his  spurs.  Now  in  all  the  feats  of  the  Cid 
never  was  fault  found  in  him  save  only  in  this,  that  he  did  not 
enter  after  Vellido  into  the  town ;  but  he  did  not  fail  to  do  this  for 
cowardice,  neither  for  fear  of  death,  or  of  imprisonment,  but  be- 
cause he  thought  that  peradventure  this  was  a  device  between  him 
and  the  King,  and  that  he  fled  by  the  King's  command  ;  for  certes, 
if  he  had  known  that  the  King  was  slain,  there  was  nothing  which 
would  have  prevented  him  from  -entering  the  town,  and  slaying  the 
traitor  in  the  streets,  thereright. 

XXXI.  Now  the  history  saith,  that  when  Vellido  Dolfos  had  got 
within  the  postern,  he  was  in  such  fear  both  of  those  who  were  in 
the  town  and  of  those  who  were  without,  that  he  went  and  placed 
himself  under  the  mantle  of  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca.  And  when 
Don  Arias  Gonzalo  knew  this,  he  went  unto  the  Infanta  and  said, 
I,ady,  I  beseech  you  that  you  give  up  this  traitor  to  the  Castilians, 
otherwise  be  sure  that  it  will  be  to  your  own  harm ;  for  the  Castil- 
ians will  impeach  all  who  are  in  Zamora,  and  that  will  be  greater 
dishonour  for  you  and  for  us.  And  Dona  Urraca  made  answer. 
Counsel  me  then  so  that  he  may  not  die  for  this  which  he  hath 
done.  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  then  answered,  Give  him  unto  me,  and 
I  will  keep  him  in  custody  for  three  days,  and  if  the  Castilians 
impeach  us,  we  will  deliver  him  into  their  hands ;  and  if  they  do 
not  impeach  us  within  that  time,  we  will  thrust  him  out  of  the 
town  so  that  he  shall  not  be  seen  among  us.  And  Don  Arias 


264  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

Gonzalo  took  him  from  thence,  and  secured  him  with  double 
fetters,  and  guarded  him  well. 

XXXII.  Meantime  the  Castilians  went  to  seek  their  King,  and 
they  found  him  by  the  side -of  the  Douro,  where  he  lay  sorely 
wounded,  even  unto  death ;  but  he  had  not  yet  lost  his  speech, 
and  the  hunting  spear  was  in  his  body,  through  and  through,  and 
they  did  not  dare  to  take  it  out  lest  he  should  die  immediately. 
And  a  master  of  Burgos  came  up  who  was  well  skilled  in  these 
things,  and  he  sawed  off  the  ends  of  the  spear,  that  he  might  not 
lose  his  speech,  and  said  that  he  should  be  confessed,  for  he  had 
death  within  him.  Then  Count  Don  Garcia  de  Cabra,  the  curly- 
haired  one  of  Granon,  said  unto  him,  Sir,  think  of  your  soul,  for 
you  have  a  desperate  wound.  And  the  King  made  answer,  Blessed 
be  you,  Count,  who  thus  counsel  me,  for  I  perceive  that  I  am 
slain  ;  the  traitor  Vellido  has  killed  me,  and  I  well  know  that  this 
was  for  my  sins,  because  I  broke  the  oath  which  I  made  unto  the 
King  my  father.  And  as  the  King  was  saying  this  the  Cid  came 
up  and  knelt  before  him  and  said :  I,  Sir,  remain  more  desolate 
than  any  other  of  your  vassals,  for  for  your  sake  have  I  made  your 
brethren  mine  enemies,  and  all  in  the  world  who  were  against  you, 
and  against  whom  it  pleased  you  to  go.  The  King  your  father 
commended  me  to  them  as  well  as  to  you,  when  he  divided  his 
kingdoms,  and  I  have  lost  their  love  for  your  sake,  having  done 
them  great  evil.  And  now  neither  can  I  go  before  King  Don  Alfonso 
your  brother,  nor  remain  among  the  Christians  before  Dona  Urraca 
your  sister,  because  they  hold  that  whatsoever  you  have  done  against 
them  was  by  my  counsel.  Now  then,  Sir,  remember  me  before  you 
depart.  The  King  then  commanded  that  they  should  raise  him  up 
in  the  bed,  and  the  Counts  and  Ricos-omes  stood  round  about  him, 
and  the  Bishops  and  Archbishops  who  had  come  thither  to  make 
accord  between  him  and  his  sister  Dona  Urraca,  and  they  heard 
what  the  Cid  said,  and  knew  that  he  said  truly ;  for  whatever  good 
speed  King  Don  Sancho  had  had  in  his  doings  was  all  by  means  of 
my  Cid.  And  the  King  said  unto  them,  I  beseech  all  ye  who  are 
here  present,  Counts  and  Ricos-omes,  and  all  my  other  vassals, 
that  if  my  brother  King  Don  Alfonso  should  come  from  the  land 
of  the  Moors,  ye  beseech  him  to  show  favour  unto  you,  my  Cid,  and 
that  he  always  be  bountiful  unto  you,  and  receive  you  to  be  his 
vassal ;  and  if  he  alway  doth  this  and  listen  unto  you,  he  will  not 
be  badly  advised.  Then  the  Cid  arose  and  kissed  his  hand,  and 
all  the  chief  persons  who  were  there  present  did  the  like.  And 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR. 


265 


after  this  the  King  said  unto  them,  I  beseech  ye  entreat  my 
brother  King  Don  Alfonso  to  forgive  me  whatever  wrong  I  have 
done  him,  and  to  pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  upon  my  soul.  And 
when  he  had  said  this  he  asked  for  the  candle,  and  presently  his 
soul  departed.  And  all  who  were  there  present  made  great 
lamentation  for  the  King. 


266  CHRONICLE   OF  THE    CID. 


BOOK    III. 

I.  Now  when  the  King  was  dead,  the  townsmen  who  were  in 
the  camp  forsook  their  tents  and  fled,  and  much  did  they  lose 
in  their  flight;  but  the  noble  Castilians,  thinking  rather  of  what 
they  were  bound  to  do  as  men  who  had  alway  preserved  their 
loyalty,  like  their  ancestors  before  them,  would  not  depart  from 
Zamora,   nor  break  up  the  siege  thereof,  but  remained  bravely 
before  it,  though  they  had  lost  their  Lord.     And  they  summoned 
all  the  Bishops,  and  took  the  body  of  the  King  and  sent  it  full 
honourably  to  the   Monastery  of  Ona,  and  buried  him  there  as 
beseemed  a  King :  and  while  one  part  of  the  chief  men  of  the 
host  accompanied  the  body,  the  rest  remained  in  the  camp  before 
Zamora.     And  when  the  prelates  and  good  men  had  returned  to 
the  army,  they  took  counsel  together  how  they  should  proceed 
against  the  men  of  Zamora  for  this  great  treason  which  had  been 
committed.     Then  Count  Don  Garcia  de  Cabra  arose  and  said, 
Friends,  ye  see  that  we  have  lost  our  Lord  the  King  Don  Sancho ; 
the  traitor  Vellido,  being  his  vassal,  slew  him,  and  they  of  Zamora 
have  received  and  harboured  him  within  their  walls  ;  and  therefore 
as  we  think,  and  as  has  been  said  unto  us,  he  did  this  treason  by 
their  counsel.     Now  then  if  there  be  one  here  who  will  impeach 
them  for  this  thing,  we  will  do  whatever  may  be  needful  that  he 
may  come  off  with  honour,  and  the  impeachment   be   carried 
through.     Then  Don  Diego  Ordonez  arose,  the  son  of  Count  Don 
Ordono,  a  man  of  royal  lineage  and  great  hardihood  ;  and  he  said 
unto  them,  If  ye  will  all  assent  to  this  which  ye  have  heard,  I  will 
impeach  the  men  of  Zamora,  for  the  death  of  the  King  our  Lord  : 
and  they   all  assented,   promising  to  fulfil  what  had  been  said. 
Now  my  Cid  did  not  make  this  impeachment  against  the  people 
of  Zamora,  because  of  the  oath  which  he  had  sworn. 

II.  Then  Don  Diego  Ordonez  went  to  his  lodging  and  armed 
himself  well,  and  armed  his  horse  also,  and  mounted  and  rode 
toward   Zamora.      And  when  he  drew  nigh  unto  the  town,  he 
covered  himself  with  his  shield  that  they  might  not  hurt  him  from 
the  walls,  and  began  to  cry  aloud,  asking  if  Don  Arias  Gonzalo 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  267 

were  there,  for  he  would  speak  with  him.  A  squire  who  was 
keeping  guard  upon  the  wall  went  to  Don  Arias  and  told  him  that 
there  was  a  knight  well  armed  calling  for  him,  without  the  walls, 
and  he  said  that  if  it  pleased  Don  Arias  he  would  shoot  at  him 
with  a  cross-bow,  and  strike  him  or  kill  his  horse  :  but  Don  Arias 
forbade  him,  saying  that  he  should  no  ways  harm  him.  And  Don 
Arias  Gonzalo  went  with  his  sons  upon  the  wall  to  see  who  called 
for  him,  and  he  spake  to  the  knight,  saying,  Friend,  what  wouldst 
thou  ?  And  Don  Diego  Ordonez  answered,  The  Castilians  have 
lost  their  Lord ;  the  traitor  Vellido  slew  him,  being  his  vassal,  and 
ye  of  Zamora  have  received  Vellido  and  harboured  him  within 
your  walls.  Now  therefore  I  say  that  he  is  a  traitor  who  hath  a 
traitor  with  him,  if  he  knoweth  and  consenteth  unto  the  treason. 
And  for  this  I  impeach  the  people  of  Zamora,  the  great  as  well  as 
the  little,  the  living  and  the  dead,  they  who  now  are  and  they  who 
are  yet  unborn ;  and  I  impeach  the  waters  which  they  drink  and 
the  garments  which  they  put  on ;  their  bread  and  their  wine,  and 
the  very  stones  in  their  walls.  If  there  be  any  one  in  Zamora 
to  gainsay  what  I  have  said,  I  will  do  battle  with  him,  and  with 
(rod's  pleasure  conquer  him,  so  that  the  imfamy  shall  remain  upon 
you.  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  replied,  If  I  were  what  thou  sayest  I  am, 
it  had  been  better  for  me  never  to  have  been  born ;  but  in  what 
thou  sayest  thou  liest.  In  that  which  the  great  do  the  little  have 
no  fault,  nor  the  dead  for  the  deeds  of  the  living,  which  they 
neither  see  nor  hear  :  but  setting  aside  these  and  the  things  which 
have  no  understanding,  as  to  the  rest  I  say  that  thou  liest,  and  I 
will  do  battle  with  thee  upon  this  quarrel,  or  give  thee  one  in  my 
stead.  But  know  that  you  have  been  ill  advised  in  making  this 
impeachment,  for  the  manner  is,  that  whosoever  impeacheth  a 
Council  must  do  battle  with  five,  one  after  another,  and  if  he  con- 
quer the  five  he  shall  be  held  a  true  man,  but  if  either  of  the  five 
conquer  him,  the  council  is  held  acquitted  and  he  a  liar.  When 
Don  Diego  heard  this  it  troubled  him  ;  howbeit  he  dissembled 
this  right  well,  and  said  unto  Don  Arias  Gonzalo.  I  will  bring 
twelve  Castilians,  and  do  you  bring  twelve  men  of  Zamora,  and 
they  shall  swear  upon  the  Holy  Gospel  to  judge  justly  between  us, 
and  if  they  find  that  I  am  bound  to  do  battle  with  five,  I  will  per- 
form it.  And  Don  Arias  made  answer  that  he  said  well,  and  it 
should  be  so.  And  truce  was  made  for  three  times  nine  days,  till 
this  should  have  been  determined  and  the  combat  fought. 

III.   Then  when  the  truce  was  made,  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  went 
out  from  the  town  into  the  host  of  the  Castilians,  and  his  sons 


268  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

with  him,  and  many  of  the  knights  of  the  town ;  and  all  the  Ricos- 
omes  and  knights  who  were  in  the  host  assembled  together  with 
them,  and  consulted  what  was  to  be  done  in  this  impeachment. 
And  they  chose  out  twelve  alcaldes  on  the  one  part,  and  twelve  on 
the  other,  who  should  decide  in  what  manner  he  was  bound  to 
perform  combat  who  impeached  a  Council.  And  the  four  and 
twenty  alcaldes  accorded  concerning  what  was  the  law  in  this  case  ; 
and  two  of  them  who  were  held  the  most  learned  in  these  things 
arose,  the  one  being  a  Castilian  and  the  other  of  Zamora,  and  said 
that  they  had  found  the  law  as  it  was  written  to  be  this  :  That  who- 
soever impeacheth  the  Council  of  a  town  which  was  a  bishop's 
seat,  must  do  battle  with  five  in  the  field,  one  after  another ;  and 
that  after  every  combat  there  should  be  given  unto  him  fresh  arms 
and  horse,  and  three  sops  of  bread,  and  a  draught  either  of  wine 
or  of  water,  as  he  chose.  And  in  this  sentence  which  the  twain 
pronounced,  and  the  other  twenty  and  two  accorded. 

IV.  On  the  morrow  before  the  hour  of  tierce,  the  four  and 
twenty  alcaldes  marked  out  the  lists  upon  the  sand  beside  the 
river,  at  the  place  which  is  called  Santiago,  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  lists  they  placed  a  bar,  and  ordained  that  he  who  won  the  bat- 
tle should  lay  hand  on  the  bar,  and  say  that  he  had  conquered  : 
and  then  they  appointed  a  term  of  nine  days  for  the  combatants 
to  come  to  those  lists  which  had  been  assigned.     And  when  all 
was  appointed  as  ye  have  heard,  Don  Arias  returned  to  Zamora. 
and  told  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca  all  that  had  been  done,  and  she 
ordered  a  meeting  to  be  called,  at  which  all  the  men  of  the  town 
assembled.      And  when  they  were  gathered  together,  Don  Arias 
Gonzalo  said  unto  them,  Friends,  I   beseech  ye,  if  there  be  any 
here  among  ye  who  took  counsel  for  the  death  of  King  Don  San- 
cho,  or  were  privy  thereunto,  that  ye  now  tell  me,  and  deny  it  not ; 
for  rather  would  I  go  with  my  sons  to  the  land  of  the  Moors,  than 
be  overcome  in  the  field,  and  held  for  a  traitor.     Then  they  all  re- 
plied, that  there  was  none  there  who  knew  of  the  treason,  nor  had 
consented  unto  it.     At  this  was  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  well  pleased, 
and  he  bade  them  go  each  to  his  house  ;  and  he  went  to  his  house 
also  with  his  sons,  and  chose  out  four  of  them  to  do  -combat,  and 
said  that  he  would  be  the  fifth  himself;  and  he  gave  them  direc- 
tions how  to  demean  themselves  in  the  lists,  and  said,  that  he 
would  enter  first ;  and  if,  said  he,  what  the  Castilian  saith  be  true, 
1  would  die  first,  not  to  see  the  infamy  ;  but  if  what  he  saith  be 
false,  I  shall  conquer  him,  and  ye  shall  ever  be  held  in  honour. 

V.  When  the  day  appointed  was  come,  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  early 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DR   BIVAR.  269 

in  the  morning  armed  his  sons,  and  they  armed  him ;  and  it  was 
told  him  that  Don  Diego  Ordonez  was  already  in  the  lists.  Then 
he  and  his  sons  mounted  their  horses,  and  as  they  rode  through 
the  gates  of  their  house,  Dona  Urraca,  with  a  company  of  dames 
met  them,  and  said  to  Don  Arias,  weeping,  Remember  now  how 
my  father,  King  Don  Ferrando,  left  me  to  your  care,  and  you 
swore  between  his  hands  that  you  would  never  forsake  me  ;  and 
lo  !  now  you  are  forsaking  me.  I  beseech  you  remain  with  me, 
and  go  not  to  this  battle ;  for  there  is  reason  enough  why  you 
should  be  excused,  and  not  break  the  oath  which  you  made  unto 
my  father.  And  she  took  hold  on  him,  and  would  not  let  him  go, 
and  made  him  be  disarmed.  Then  came  many  knights  around 
him,  to  demand  arms  of  him,  and  request  that  they  might  do  bat- 
tle in  his  stead ;  nevertheless  he  would  give  them  to  none.  And 
he  called  for  his  son  Pedro  Arias,  who  was  a  right  brave  knight, 
though  but  of  green  years,  and  who  had  greatly  entreated  his  father 
before  this,  that  he  would  suffer  him  to  fight  in  his  stead.  And 
Don  Arias  armed  him  completely  with  his  own  hands,  and  instructed 
him  how  to  demean  himself,  and  gave  him  his  blessing  with  his 
right  hand,  and  said  unto  him,  that  in  such  a  point  he  went  to 
save  the  people  of  Zamora,  as  when  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  came 
through  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  save  the  people  of  this  world,  who 
were  lost  by  our  father  Adam.  Then  went  they  into  the  field, 
where  Don  Diego  Ordonez  was  awaiting  them,  and  Pedrarias 
entered  the  lists,  and  the  judges  placed  them  each  In  his  place, 
and  divided  the  sun  between  them,  and  went  out,  leaving  them  in 
the  lists. 

VI.  Then  they  turned  their  horses  one  against  the  other,  and 
ran  at  each  other  full  bravely,  like  good  knights.  Five  times  they 
encountered,  and  at  the  sixth  encounter  their  spears  brake,  and 
they  laid  hand  upon  their  swords,  and  dealt  each  other  such  heavy 
blows  that  the  helmets  failed;  and  in  this  manner  the  combat 
between  them  continued  till  noon.  And  when  Don  Diego  Ordo- 
nez saw  that  it  lasted  so  long,  and  he  could  not  yet  conquer  him, 
he  called  to  mind  that  he  was  there  fighting  to  revenge  his  Ix>rd, 
who  had  been  slain  by  a  foul  treason,  and  he  collected  together 
all  his  strength.  And  he  lifted  up  his  sword  and  smote  Pedrarias 
upon  the  helmet,  so  that  he  cut  through  it,  and  through  the  hood 
of  the  mail  also,  and  made  a  wound  in  the  head.  And  Pedrarias 
with  the  agony  of  death,  and  with  the  blood  which  ran  over  his 
eyes,  bowed  down  to  the  neck  of  the  horse ;  yet  with  all  this  he 
neither  lost  his  stirrups,  nor  let  go  his  sword.  And  Don  Diego 


270  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    C7D, 

Ordonez  seeing  him  thus,  thought  that  he  was  dead,  and  would 
not  strike  him  again  ;  and  he  called  aloud,  saying,  Don  Arias,  send 
me  another  son,  for  this  one  will  never  fulfil  your  bidding.  When 
Pedrarias  heard  this,  grievously  wounded  as  he  was,  he  wiped  the 
blood  away  with  the  sleeve  of  his  mail,  and  went  fiercely  against 
him  :  and  he  took  the  sword  in  both  hands,  and  thought  to  give  it 
him  upon  his  head ;  but  the  blow  missed,  and  fell  upon  the  horse, 
and  cut  off  great  part  of  his  nostrils,  and  the  reins  with  it ;  and  the 
horse  immediately  ran  away  because  of  the  great  wound  which  he 
had  received.  And  Don  Diego  had  no  reins  wherewith  to  stop 
him,  and  perceiving  that  he  should  else  be  carried  out  of  the  lists, 
he  threw  himself  off.  And  while  he  did  this,  Pedrarias  fell  down 
dead,  just  without  the  mark.  And  Don  Diego  Ordonez  laid  hand 
on  the  bar,  and  said,  Praised  be  the  name  of  God,  one  is  con- 
quered. And  incontinently  the  judges  came  and  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  led  him  to  a  tent  and  disarmed  him,  and  gave  him  three 
sops,  and  he  drank  of  the  wine  and  rested  awhile.  And  afterwards 
they  gave  him  other  arms,  and  a  horse  that  was  a  right  good  one, 
and  went  with  him  to  the  lists. 

VII.  Then  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  called  for  another  son,  whose 
name  was  Diego  Arias,  and  said  unto  him,  To  horse  !  and  go  light 
to  deliver  this  Council  and  to  revenge  the  death  of  your  brother  : 
and  he  answered,  For  this  am  I  come  hither.  Then  his  father 
gave  him  his  blessing  and  went  with  him  to  the  lists.  And  the 
judges  took  the  reins  of  the  two  champions  and  led  them  each  to 
his  place,  and  went  out  and  left  them  in  the  lists.  And  they  ran 
against  each  other  with  such  force  that  both  shields  failed,  and  in 
another  career  they  brake  their  lances.  Then  laid  they  hand  on 
their  good  swords,  and  delivered  such  blows  that  their  helmets  were 
cut  away,  and  the  sleeves  of  the  mail.  And  at  length  Diego  Arias 
received  such  a  blow  near  the  heart  that  he  fell  dead.  And  1  )on 
1  )iego  Ordonez  went  to  the  bar  and  laid  hold  on  it,  and  cried  out 
to  Don  Arias  Gonzalo,  Send  me  another  son,  for  I  have  conquered 
two,  thanks  be  to  God.  Then  the  judges  came  and  said  that  the 
dead  knight  was  not  yet  out  of  the  lists,  and  that  he  must  alight 
and  cast  him  out.  And  Don  Diego  Ordonez  did  as  they  had  di- 
rected him,  and  alighted  from  his  horse  and  took  the  dead  man  by 
the  leg,  and  dragged  him  to  the  line,  and  then  letting  the  leg  fall 
he  thrust  him  out  of  the  lists  with  his  feet.  And  then  he  went  and 
laid  hand  upon  the  bar  again,  saying  that  he  had  liefer  fight  with  a 
living  man  than  drag  a  dead  one  out  of  the  field.  And  then  the 
judges  came  to  him,  and  led  him  to  the  tent,  and  disarmed  him, 


RODRIGO  DTAZ  DE  BIVAR.  271 

and  gave  him  the  three  sops  and  the  wine,  as  they  had  done  before, 
and  sent  to  say  to  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  that  this  son  also  was  slain, 
and  that  he  should  send  another. 

VIII.  Then  Don  Arias  Gonzalo,  in  great  rage  and  in  great  trouble 
called  for  his  son  Rodrigo  Arias,  who  was  a  good  knight,  right  hardy 
and  valiant,  the  elder  of  all  the  brethren  ;  he  had  been  in  many  a 
tournament,  and  with  good  fortune.  And  Don  Arias  said  unto  him, 
Son,  go  now  and  do  battle  with  Diego  Ordonez,  to  save  Dona  Ur- 
raca  your  Lady,  and  yourself,  and  the  Council  of  Zamora ;  and  if 
you  do  this,  in  happy  hour  were  you  born.  Then  Rodrigo  Arias 
kissed  his  hand  and  answered,  Father,  I  thank  you  much  for  what 
you  have  said,  and  be  sure  that  I  will  save  them,  or  take  my  death. 
And  he  took  his  arms  and  mounted,  and  his  father  gave  him  his 
blessing,  and  went  with  him  to  the  lists ;  and  the  judges  took  his 
reins  and  led  him  in.  And  when  the  judges  were  gone  out,  they 
twain  ran  at  each  other,  and  Don  Diego  missed  his  blow,  but  Rod- 
rigo Arias  did  not  miss,  for  he  gave  him  so  great  a  stroke  with  the 
lance  that  it  pierced  through  the  shield,  and  broke  the  saddle-bow 
behind,  and  made  him  lose  his  stirrups,  and  he  embraced  the  neck 
of  his  horse.  But  albeit  that  Don  Diego  was  sorely  bested  with 
that  stroke,  he  took  heart  presently,  and  went  bravely  against  him, 
and  dealt  him  so  great  a  blow  that  he  broke  the  lance  in  him ;  for 
it  went  through  the  shield  and  all  his  other  arms,  and  great  part  of 
the  lance  remained  in  his  flesh.  After  this  they  laid  hand  to  sword, 
and  gave  each  to  the  other  great  blows,  and  great  wounds  with  them. 
And  Rodrigo  Arias  gave  so  great  a  wound  to  Diego  Ordonez,  that 
he  cut  his  left  arm  through  to  the  bone.  And  Don  Diego  Ordo- 
nez, when  he  felt  himself  so  sorely  wounded,  went  against  Rodrigo 
Arias  and  delivered  him  a  blow  upon  the  head  which  out  through 
the  helmet  and  the  hood  of  the  mail,  and  entered  into  his  head. 
When  Rodrigo  Arias  felt  himself  wounded  to  death,  he  let  go  the 
reins  and  took  his  sword  in  both  hands,  and  gave  so  great  a  blow 
to  the  horse  of  Don  Diego  that  he  cut  his  head  open.  And  the 
horse  -in  his  agony  ran  out  of  the  lists,  and  carried  Don  Diego  out 
also,  and  there  died.  And  Rodrigo  Arias  fell  dead  as  he  was 
following  him.  Then  Don  Diego  Ordonez  would  have  returned 
into  the  field  to  do  battle  with  the  other  two,  but  the  judges  would 
not  permit  this,  neither  did  they  think  good  to  decide  whether 
they  of  Zamora  were  overcome  in  this  third  duel  or  not.  And  in 
this  manner  the  thing  was  left  undecided.  Nevertheless,  though 
no  sentence  was  given,  there  remained  no  infamy  upon  the  people 
of  Zamora.  But  better  had  it  been  for  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  if  he 


272  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

had  given  up  Vellido  to  the  Castilians,  that  he  might  have  died  the 
death  of  a  traitor ;  he  would  not  then  have  lost  these  three  sons, 
who  died  like  good  men,  in  their  duty.  Now  what  was  the  end  of 
Vellido  the  history  sayeth  not,  through  the  default  of  the  Chroniclers  ; 
but  it  is  to  be  believed,  that  because  the  impeachment  was  not 
made  within  three  days,  Don  Arias  Gonzalo  thrust  him  out  of  the 
town  as  Dona  Urraca  had  requested,  and  that  he  fled  into  other 
lands,  peradventure  among  the  Moors.  And  though  it  may  be  that 
he  escaped  punishment  in  this  world,  yet  certes  he  could  not  escape 
it  in  hell,  where  he  is  tormented  with  Dathan  and  Abiram,  and  with 
Judas  the  Traitor,  for  ever  ajid  ever. 

IX.  In  the  meantime  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca  wrote  letters  se- 
cretly and  sent  messengers  with  them  to  Toledo  to  King  Don  Alfon- 
so, telling  him  that  King  Don  Sancho  his  brother  was  dead,  and  had 
left  no  heir,  and  that  he  should  come  as  speedily  as  he  could  to 
receive  the  kingdoms.  And  she  bade  her  messengers  deliver  these 
privately  that  the  Moors  might  not  discover  what  had  taken  place, 
lest  they  should  seize  upon  King  Don  Alfonso,  whom  she  dearly 
loved.  Moreover  the  Castilians  assembled  together  and  found  that 
as  King  Don  Sancho  had  left  no  son  to  succeed  him  they  were 
bound  by  right  to  receive  King  Don  Alfonso  as  their  Lord ;  and 
they  also  sent  unto  him  in  secret.  Howbeit,  certain  of  those  spies 
who  discover  to  the  Moors  whatever  the  Christians  design  to  do, 
when  they  knew  the  death  of  King  Don  Sancho,  went  presently 
to  acquaint  the  Moors  therewith.  Now  Don  Peransures,  as  he  was 
a  man  of  great  understanding  and  understood  the  Arabic  tongue, 
when  he  knew  the  death  of  King  Don  Sancho,  and  while  he  was 
devising  how  to  get  his  Lord  away  from  Toledo,  rode  out  every 
day,  as  if  to  solace  himself,  on  the  way  towards  Castile,  to  see  whom 
he  might  meet,  and  to  learn  tidings.  And  it  fell  out  one  day  that 
he  met  a  man  who  told  him  he  was  going  with  news  to  King  Ali- 
maymon,  that  King  Don  Sancho  was  dead ;  and  Don  Peransures 
took  him  aside  from  the  road  as  if  to  speak  to  him,  and  cut  off  his 
head.  And  Peransures  returned  into  the  road  and  met  another 
man  coming  with  the  same  tidings  to  the  King,  and  he  slew  him  in 
like  manner.  Nevertheless  the  tidings  reached  King  Alimaymon. 
Now  Peransures  and  his  brethren  feared  that  if  the  Moor  knew  this 
he  would  not  let  their  Lord  depart,  but  would  seize  him  and  make 
hard  terms  for  his  deliverance  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  they  thought 
that  if  he  should  learn  it  from  any  other  than  themselves,  it  would 
be  yet  worse.  And  while  they  were  in  doubt  what  they  should  do, 
King  Don  Alfonso,  trusting  in  God's  mercy,  said  unto  them,  When 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  273 

I  came  hither  unto  this  Moor,  he  received  me  with  great  honour, 
and  gave  to  me  abundantly  all  things  of  which  I  stood  in  need, 
even  as  if  I  had  been  his  son ;  how  then  should  I  conceal  from  him 
this  favour  which  it  hath  pleased  God  to  show  me  ?  I  will  go  and 
tell  it  unto  him.  But  Don  Peransures  besought  him  not  to- tell  him 
of  his  brother's  death.  And  he  went  to  King  Alimaymon  and  said 
unto  him,  that  he  would  fain  go  into  his  own  country,  if  it  pleased 
him,  to  help  his  vassals,  who  stood  greatly  in  need  of  him,  and  he 
besought  him  that  he  would  give  him  men.  The  death  of  King 
Don  Sancho  he  did  not  make  known.  And  King  Alimaymon  an- 
swered that  he  should  not  do  this,  because  he  feared  that  King 
Don  Sancho  his  brother  would  take  him.  And  King  Don  Alfonso 
said,  that  he  knew  the  ways  and  customs  of  his  brother,  and  did 
not  fear  him,  if  it  pleased  the  King  to  give  him  some  Moors  to  help 
him.  Now  Alimaymon  had  heard  of  the  death  of  King  Don  Sancho, 
and  he  had  sent  to  occupy  the  roads  and  the  passes,  that  King  Don 
Alfonso  might  be  stopped  if  he  should  attempt  to  depart  without 
his  knowledge.  Howbeit  he  did  not  fully  believe  the  tidings,  see- 
ing that  King  Don  Alfonso  did  not  speak  of  it ;  and  he  rejoiced  in 
his  heart  at  what  the  King  said,  and  he  said  unto  him,  I  thank  God, 
Alfonso,  that  thou  hast  told  me  of  thy  wish  to  go  into  thine  own 
country ;  for  in  this  thou  hast  dealt  loyally  by  me,  and  saved  me 
from  that  which  might  else  have  happened,  to  which  the  Moors 
have  alway  importuned,  me.  And  hadst  thou  departed  privily  thou 
couldest  not  have  escaped  being  slain  or  taken.  Now  then  go  and 
take  thy  kingdom  ;  and  I  will  give  thee  whatever  thou  hast  need  of 
to  give  to  thine  own  people  and  win  their  hearts  that  they  may  serve 
thee.  And  he  then  besought  him  to  renew  the  oath  which  he  had 
taken,  never  to  come  against  him  nor  his  sons,  but  always  to  befriend 
them ;  and  this  same  oath  did  the  King  of  Toledo  make  unto  him. 
Now  Alimaymon  had  a  grandson  whom  he  dearly  loved,  who  was 
not  named  in  the  oath,  and  King  Don  Alfonso  therefore  was  not 
bound  to  keep  it  towards  him.  And  King  Don  Alfonso  made  ready 
for  his  departure,  and  Alimaymon  and  the  chief  persons  of  the  court 
went  out  from  the  city  with  him  and  rode  with  him  as  far  as  the 
Sierra  del  Dragon,  which  is  now  called  Valtome ;  and  he  gave  him 
great  gifts,  and  there  they  took  leave  of  each  other  with  great  love. 
X.  As  soon  as  King  Don  Alfonso  arrived  at  Zamora,  he  pitched 
his  tents  in  the  field  of  Santiago,  and  took  counsel  with  his  sister. 
And  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca,  who  was  a  right  prudent  lady  and  a 
wise,  sent  letters  throughout  the  land,  that  a  Cortes  should  assemble 
and  receive  him  for  their  Lord.  And  when  the  Leonese  and  the 


274  CHRONICLE   OF   THE   CID, 

Galegos  knew  that  their  Lord  King  Don  Alfonso  was  come,  they 
were  full  joyful,  and  they  came  to  Zamora  and  received  him  for 
their  Lord  and  King.  And  afterwards  the  Castilians  arrived,  and 
they  of  Navarre,  and  they  also  received  him  for  their  Lord  and 
King,  but  upon  this  condition,  that  he  should  swear  that  he  had  not 
taken  counsel  for  the  death  of  his  brother  King  Don  Sancho.  How- 
beit  they  did  not  come  forward  to  recieve  the  oath,  and  they  kissed 
his  hands  in  homage,  all,  save  only  Ruydiez,  my  Cid.  And  when 
King  Don  Alfonso  saw  that  the  Cid  did  not  do  homage  and  kiss 
his  hand,  as  all  the  other  chief  persons  and  prelates  and  Councils 
had  done,  he  said,  Since  now  ye  have  all  received  me  for  your  Lord, 
and  given  me  authority  over  ye,  I  would  know  of  the  Cid  Ruydie/ 
why  he  will  not  kiss  my  hand  and  acknowledge  me  ;  for  I  would 
do  something  for  him,  as  I  promised  unto  my  father  King  Don 
Ferrando,  when  he  commended  him  to  me  and  to  my  brethren. 
And  the  Cid  arose  and  said,  Sir,  all  whom  you  see  here  present, 
suspect  that  by  your  counsel  the  King  Don  Sancho  your  brother 
came  to  his  death ;  and  therefore,  I  say  unto  you  that,  unless  you 
clear  yourself  of  this,  as  by  right  you  should  do,  I  will  never  kiss 
your  hand,  nor  receive  you  for  my  Lord.  Then  said  the  King,  Cid, 
what  you  say  pleases  me  well ;  and  here  I  swear  to  God  and  to  St. 
Mary,  that  I  never  slew  him,  nor  took  counsel  for  his  death,  neither 
did  it  please  me,  though  he  had  taken  my  kingdom  from  me.  And 
I  beseech  ye  therefore  all,  as  friends  and  true  vassals,  that  ye  tell 
me  how  I  may  clear  myself.  And  the  chiefs  who  were  present 
said,  that  he  and  twelve  of  the  knights  who  came  with  him  from 
Toledo,  should  make  this  oath  in  the  church  at  St.  Gadea  at  Bur- 
gos, and  that  so  he  should  be  cleared. 

XL  So  the  King  and  all  his  company  took  horse  and  went  to 
Burgos.  And  when  the  day  appointed  for  the  oath  was  come,  the 
King  went  to  hear  mass  in  the  church  of  Gadea,  and  his  sisters  the 
Infantas  Dona  Urraca  and  Dona  Elvira  with  him,  and  all  his  knights. 
And  the  King  came  forward  upon  a  high  stage  that  all  the  people 
might  see  him,  and  my  Cid  came  to  him  to  receive  the  oath  ;  and 
my  Cid  took  the  book  of  the  Gospels  and  opened  it,  and  laid  it 
upon  the  altar,  and  the  King  laid  his  hands  upon  it,  and  the  Cid 
said  unto  him,  King  Don  Alfonso,  you  come  here  to  swear  concern- 
ing the  death  of  King  Don  Sancho  your  brother,  that  you  neither 
slew  him  nor  took  counsel  for  his  death  ;  say  now  you  and  these 
hidalgos,  if  ye  swear  this.  And  the  King  and  the  hidalgos  an- 
swered and  said,  Yea,  we  swear  it.  And  the  Cid  said,  If  ye  knew 
of  this  thing,  or  gave  command  that  it  should  be  done,  may  you 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  275 

die  even  such  a  death  as  your  brother  the  King  Don  Sancho,  by 
the  hand  of  a  villain  whom  you  trust ;  one  who  is  not  a  hidalgo, 
from  another  land,  not  a  Castilian ;  and  the  King  and  the  knights 
\vho  were  with  him  said  Amen.  And  the  King's  colour  changed  ; 
and  the  Cid  repeated  the  oath  unto  him  a  second  time,  and  the 
King  and  the  twelve  knights  said  Amen  to  it  in  like  manner,  and  in 
like  manner  the  countenance  of  the  King  was  changed  again.  And 
my  Cid  repeated  the  oath  unto  him  a  third  time,  and  the  King  and 
the  knights  said  Amen ;  but  the  wrath  of  the  King  was  exceeding 
great,  and  he  said  to  the  Cid,  Ruydiez,  why  dost  thou  thus  press 
me,  man  ?  To-day  thou  swearest  me,  and  to-morrow  thou  wilt  kiss 
my  hand.  And  from  that  day  forward  there  was  no  love  towards 
my  Cid l  in  the  heart  of  the  King. 

XII.  After  this  was  King  Don  Alfonso  crowned  King  of  Castile, 
and  Leon,  and  Galicia,  and  Portugal ;  and  he  called  himself  King 
and  Emperor  of  all  Spain,  even  as  his  father  had  done  before  him. 
And  in  the  beginning  of  his  reign  he  did  in  all  things  according  to 
the  counsel  of  the  Infanta  Dona  Urraca  his  sister ;  and  he  was  a 
good  King,  and  kept  his  kingdom  so  well,  that  rich  and  poor  alike 
dwelt  in  peace  and  security,  neither  did  one  man  take  arms  against 
another,  nor  dare  to  do  it,  if  he  valued  the  eyes  in  his  head.  And 
if  the  King  was  noble  and  high  of  lineage,  much  more  was  he  of 
heart ;  and  in  his  days  justice  abounded  in  the  land  so,  that  if  a 
woman  had  gone  alone  throughout  the  whole  of  his  dominions, 
bearing  gold  and  silver  in  her  hand,  she  would  have  found  none  to 
hurt  her,  neither  in  the  waste,  nor' in  the  peopled  country.  The 
merchants  and  pilgrims  also  who. passed  through  his  lands  were  so 
well  protected,  that  none  durst  do  them  wrong.  Never  while  the 
kingdom  was  his,  had  they  of  his  land  to  do  service  to  any  other 
Lord.  And  he  was  a  comforter  of  the  sorrowful,  and  an  increaser 
of  the  faith,  and  a  defender  of  the  churches,  and  the  strength  of 
the  people  ;  a  judge  without  fear ;  there  was  not  in  Spain  a  con- 
soler of  the  poor  and  of  those  who  were  oppressed,  till  he  came. 
Now  there  was  a  mortal  enmity  between  my  Cid  and  Count  Garcia 
Ordonez,  and  in  this  year  did  my  Cid  gather  together  those  of  his 
table,  and  all  his  power,  and  entered  into  the  lands  of  Logrono,  and 
Navarre,  and  Calahorra,  burning  and  spoiling  the  country  before 
him.  And  he  laid  siege  to  the  Castle  of  Faro  and  took  it.  And 
he  sent  messengers  to  the  Count  his  enemy,  to  say  that  he  would 

1  The  Cid  when  he  repeated  the  oath  seems  only  to  have  enforced  the  law 
of  Castile. 


276  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

wait  for  him  seven  days,  and  he  waited.  And  the  mighty  men  of 
the  land  came  to  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  but  come  against  my  Cid 
that  they  dared  not  do,  for  they  feared  to  do  battle  with  him. 

XIII.  In  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Don  Alfonso,  the 
King  of  Cordova  made  war  upon  Alimaymon  King  of  Toledo,  and 
did  great  damage  in  his  land,  and  held  him  besieged  in  Toledo  ; 
and  King  Don  Alfonso  drew  forth  a  great  host  and  went  to  help 
the  King  of  Toledo.     When  Alimaymon  knew  that  he  was  coming 
with  so  great  a  power,  he  was  greatly  dismayed,  thinking  that  he 
came  against  him  ;  and  he  sent  to  remind  him  of  the  love  and  the 
honour  which  he  had  shown  unto  him  in  the  days  of  his  brother 
King  Don  Sancho,  and  of  the  oath  which  he  had  taken  ;  and  to  be- 
seech him  that  he  would  continue  in  peace  with  him.     And  the 
King  detained  his  messengers,  giving  them  no  reply,  and  went  on 
advancing  into  the  land,  doing  no  hurt  therein.    And  when  he  came 
to  Olias,  he  ordered  the  whole  army  to  halt.     And  when  the  King 
of  Cordova  knew  that  King  Don  Alfonso  was  coming,  he  rose  up 
from  before  Toledo,  and  fled  away,  and  the  men  of  Toledo  pur- 
sued him  and  inflicted  great  loss  upon  him  in  his  flight. 

XIV.  And  when  the  army  had  halted  at  Olias,  the  King  called 
for  the  messengers  of  Alimaymon,  and  took  with  him  five  knights, 
and  rode  to  Toledo.     And  when  they  came  to  the  gate  which  is 
called  Visagra,  the  messengers  who  went  with  him  made  him  enter 
the  town,  and  he  sent  one  of  them  to  tell  the  King  that  he  was  there, 
and  went  on  in  the  meantime  towards  the  Alcaxar.    And  when  King 
Alimaymon  heard  this,  he  would  not  wait  till  a  beast  should  be  brought 
him  that  he  might  ride,  but  set  out  on  foot  and  went  to  meet  him  ; 
and  as  he  was  going  out  he  met  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  they  em- 
braced each  other.     And  the  King  of  Toledo  kissed  King  Don 
Alfonso's  shoulder,  for  the  joy  and  pleasure  that  he  had  in  his  heart 
at  seeing  him  ;  and  he  gave  thanks  to  God  for  what  he  had  done 
to  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  thanked  him  also  for  the  truth  which 
was  in  him  in  coming  thus  to  his  deliverance,  and  for  remembering 
the  oath  which  they  had  made  each  to  the  other.     And  they  re- 
joiced together  all  that  night,  and  great  was  the  joy  of  the  people 
of  Toledo,  because  of  the  love  which   King   Don  Alfonso  bore 
toward  their  Lord.     But  great  was  the  sorrow  in  the  host  of  the 
Castilians,  for  they  never  thought  to  see  their  Lord  again ;   and 
they  thought  that  he  had  committed  a  great  folly  in  thus  putting 
himself  into  the  power  of  the  Moors. 

XV.  On  the  morrow,  King  Don  Alfonso  besought  King  Alimay- 
mon that  he  would  go  and  eat  with  him  at  Olias,  and  see  how  he 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  277 

came  to  help  him.  And  they  went  both  together  with  a  little 
company,  and  when  they  of  the  host  saw  their  Lord  they  were  all 
right  joyful,  and  the  two  Kings  went  through  the  camp,  and  they 
sat  down  to  eat  in  the  tent  of  the  King,  which  was  a  large  one. 
And  while  they  were  at  meat  King  Don  Alfonso  gave  order  in 
secret  that  five  hundred  knights  should  arm  themselves  and  sur- 
round the  tent.  And  when  the  King  of  Toledo  sa\v  these  armed 
knights,  and  that  the  tent  was  surrounded,  he  was  in  great  fear, 
and  he  asked  of  King  Don  Alfonso  what  it  should  be ;  and  the 
King  bade  him  eat,  and  said,  that  afterwards  they  would  tell  him. 
And  after  they  had  eaten,  King  Don  Alfonso  said  to  Alimaymon, 
You  made  me  swear  and  promise  when  you  had  me  in  Toledo  in 
your  power,  that  no  evil  should  ever  come  against  you  on  my 
part ;  now  since  I  have  you  in  my  power  I  will  that  you  release 
me  from  this  oath  and  covenant.  And  the  King  of  Toledo  con- 
sented to  release  him,  and  besought  him  to  do  him  no  other  wrong, 
and  he  acquitted  him  from  the  promise  three  times.  And  when 
he  had  done  this  King  Don  Alfonso  called  for  the  book  of  the 
Gospels,  and  said  unto  him,  Now  then  that  you  are  in  my  power, 
I  swear  and  promise  unto  you  never  to  go  against  you,  nor  against 
your  son,  and  to  aid  you  against  all  other  men  in  the  world.  And 
I  make  this  oath  unto  you  because  there  was  reason  why  I  should 
have  broken  that  other  one,  seeing  that  it  was  made  when  I  was  in 
your  hands ;  but  against  this  I  must  not  go,  for  I  make  it  when 
you  are  in  mine,  and  I  could  do  with  you  even  whatever  pleased 
me ;  and  he  laid  his  hands  upon  the  book,  and  swore  even  as  he 
had  said.  Right  joyful  was  the  King  of  Toledo  at  this  which 
King  Don  Alfonso  had  done,  for  the  loyalty  which  he  had  shown 
towards  him.  And  they  remained  that  night  together ;  and  on  the 
morrow  Alimaymon  returned  to  his  city  full  gladly,  and  King  Don 
Alfonso  made  his  host  move  on  towards  Cordova,  and  Alimaymon 
went  with  him ;  and  they  overran  the  land,  and  burnt  towns  and 
villages,  and  destroyed  castles,  and  plundered  whatever  they  could 
find  ;  and  they  returned  each  into  his  own  country  with  great 
spoils.  And  from  thenceforward  the  King  of  Cordova  durst  no 
more  attack  the  King  of  Toledo. 

XVI.  In  the  following  years  nothing  is  found  to  be  related,  save 
that  my  Cid  did  battle  by  command  of  the  King  with  a  knight 
called  Ximen  Garcia  de  Tiogelos,  who  was  one  of  the  best  of 
Navarre  :  they  fought  for  the  castle  of  Pazluengas,  and  for  two 
other  castles,  and  my  Cid  conquered  him,  and  King  Don  Alfonso 
had  the  castles.  And  after  this  my  Cid  did  battle  in  Medina  Celi, 


278  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CW, 

with  a  Moor  called  Faras,  who  was  a  good  knight  in  arms,  and  he 
defeated  and  slew  him  and  another  also.  And  in  the  fifth  year 
of  the  reign  of  King  Don  Alfonso,  the  King  sent  the  Cid  to  the 
Kings  of  Seville  and  of  Cordova,  for  the  tribute  which  they  were 
bound  to  pay  him.  Now  there  was  at  this  time  war  between 
Almocanis  King  of  Seville,  and  Almundafar  King  of  Granada,  and 
with  Almundafar  were  these  men  of  Castile,  the  Count  Don  Garcia 
Ordonez,  and  Fortun  Sanchez,  the  son-in-law  of  King  Don  Garcia 
of  Navarre,  and  Lope  Sanchez  his  brother,  and  Diego  Perez,  one 
of  the  best  men  of  Castile  ;  and  they  aided  him  all  that  they  could, 
and  went  against  the  King  of  Seville.  And  when  my  Cid  knew 
this  it  troubled  him,  and  he  sent  unto  them  requiring  them  not  to 
go  against  the  King  of  Seville,  nor  to  destroy  his  country,  because 
he  was  King  Don  Alfonso's  vassal ;  otherwise  the  King  must  de- 
fend him.  And  the  King  of  Granada  and  the  Ricos-omes  who 
were  with  him  cared  nothing  for  his  letters,  but  entered  boldly  into 
the  land  of  Seville,  and  advanced  as  far  as  Cabra,  burning  and 
laying  waste  before  them.  When  the  Cid  saw  this  he  gathered 
together  what  Christians  he  could  and  went  against  them.  And 
the  King  of  Granada  and  the  Christians  who  were  with  him,  sent 
to  tell  him  that  they  would  not  go  out  of  the  country  for  him. 
And  the  wrath  of  the  Cid  was  kindled,  and  he  went  against  them, 
and  fought  with  them  in  the  field,  and  the  battle  lasted  from  the 
hour  of  tierce  even  until  the  hour  of  sexts ;  and  many  died  upon 
the  part  of  the  King  of  Granada,  and  at  length  my  Cid  overcame 
them  and  made  them  take  to  flight.  And  Count  Garcia  Ordonez 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  Lope  Sanchez,  and  Diego  Perez,  and 
many  other  knights,  and  of  other  men  so  many  that  they  were  out 
of  number ;  and  the  dead  were  so  many  that  no  man  could  count 
them  ;  and  the  spoils  of  the  field  were  very  great.  And  the  Cid 
held  these  good  men  prisoners  three  clays  and  then  set  them  free, 
and  he  returned  with  great  honour  and  great  riches  to  Seville.  And 
King  Almocanis  received  him  full  honourably,  and  gave  him  great 
gifts  for  himself,  and  paid  him  the  full  tribute  for  the  King  ;  and 
he  returned  rich  to  Castile,  and  with  great  honour.  And  King 
Don  Alfonso  was  well  pleased  with  the  good  fortune  of  the  C'id 
in  all  his  feats ;  but  there  were  many  who  wished  ill  to  him,  and 
sought  to  set  the  King  against  him. 

XVII.  After  this  King  Don  Alfonso  assembled  together  all  his 
power  and  went  against  the  Moors.  And  the  Cid  should  have 
gone  with  him,  but  he  fell  sick  and  perforce  therefore  abode  at 
home.  And  while  the  King  was  going  through  Andalusia,  having 


RODRfGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  279 

the  land  at  his  mercy,  a  great  power  of  the  Moors  assembled  to- 
gether on  the  other  side,  and  entered  the  land,  and  besieged  the 
castle  of  Gormaz,  and  did  much  evil.  At  this  time  the  Cid  was 
gathering  strength  ;  and  when  he  heard  that  the  Moors  were  in  the 
country,  laying  waste  before  them,  he  gathered  together  what  force 
he  could,  and  went  after  them ;  and  the  Moors,  when  they  heard 
this,  dared  not  abide  his  coming,  but  began  to  fly.  And  the  Cid 
followed  them  to  Atienza,  and  to  Siguenza,  and  Fita,  and  Guada- 
lajara, and  through  the  whole  land  of  St.  Esteban,  as  far  as  Toledo, 
slaying  and  burning,  and  plundering  and  destroying,  and  laying 
hands  on  all  whom  he  found,  so  that  he  brought  back  seven  thou- 
sand prisoners,  men  and  women ;  and  he  and  all  his  people  returned 
rich  and  with  great  honour.  But  when  the  King  of  Toledo  heard 
of  the  hurt  which  he  had  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Cid,  he  sent 
to  King  Don  Alfonso  to  complain  thereof,  and  the  King  was  greatly 
troubled.  And  then  the  Ricos-omes  who  wished  ill  to  the  Cid, 
had  the  way  open  to  do  him  evil  with  the  King,  and  they  said  to 
the  King,  Sir,  Ruydiez  hath  broken  your  faith,  and  the  oath  and 
promise  which  you  made  to  the  King  of  Toledo  :  and  he  hath 
done  this  for  no  other  reason  but  that  the  Moors  of  Toledo  may- 
fall  upon  us  here,  and  slay  both  you  and  us.  And  the  King  be- 
lieved what  they  said,  and  was  wroth  against  the  Cid,  having  no 
love  towards  him  because  of  the  oath  which  he  had  pressed  upon 
him  at  Burgos  concerning  the  death  of  King  Don  Sancho  his 
brother.  And  he  went  with  all  speed  to  Burgos,  and  sent  from 
thence  to  bid  the  Cid  come  unto  him. 

XVIII.  Now  my  Cid  knew  the  evil  disposition  of  the  King 
towards  him,  and  when  he  received  his  bidding,  he  made  answer 
that  he  would  meet  him  between  Burgos  and  Bivar.  And  the  King 
went  out  from  Burgos  and  came  nigh  unto  Bivar ;  and  the  Cid 
came  up  to  him  and  would  have  kissed  his  hand,  but  the  King 
withheld  it,  and  said  angrily  unto  him,  Ruydiez,  quit  my  land. 
Then  the  Cid  clapped  spurs  to  the  mule  upon  which  he  rode,  and 
vaulted  into  a  piece  of  ground  which  was  his  own  inheritance,  and 
answered,  Sir,  I  am  not  in  your  land,  but  in  my  own..  And  the 
King  replied  full  wrathfully,  Go  out  of  my  kingdoms  without  any 
delay.  And  the  Cid  made  answer,  Give  me  then  thirty  days  time, 
as  is  the  right  of  the  hidalgos ;  and  the  King  said  he  would  not, 
but  that  if  he  were  not  gone  in  nine  days  time  he  would  come  and 
look  for  him.  The  Counts  were  well  pleased  at  this  ;  but  all  the 
people  of  the  land  were  sorrowful.  And  then  the  King  and  the 
Cid  parted.  And  the  Cid  sent  for  all  his  friends  and  his  kinsmen 


280  CHRONICLE    OF  THE   CID, 

and  vassals,  and  told  them  how  King  Don  Alfonso  had  banished 
him  from  the  land,  and  asked  of  them  who  would  follow  him  into 
banishment,  and  who  would  remain  at  home.  Then  Alvar  Fanez, 
who  was  his  cousin-german,  came  forward  and  said,  Cid,  we  will  all 
go  with  you,  through  desert  and  through  peopled  country,  and 
never  fail  you.  In  your  service  will  we  spend  our  mules  and 
horses,  our  wealth  and  our  garments,  and  ever  while  we  live  be 
unto  you  loyal  friends  and  vassals.  And  they  all  confirmed  what 
Alvar  Fanez  had  said ;  and  the  Cid  thanked  them  for  their  love, 
and  said  that  there  might  come  a  time  in  which  he  should  guerdon 
them. 

XIX.  And  as  he  was  about  to  depart  he  looked  back  upon  his 
own  home,  and  when  he  saw  his  hall  deserted,  the  household  chest 
unfastened,  the  doors  open,  no  cloaks  hanging  up,  no  seats  in  the 
porch,  no  hawks  upon  the  perches,  the  tears  came  into  his  eyes, 
and  he  said,  My  enemies  have  done  this  .  .  God  be  praised  for  all 
things.     And  he  turned  toward  the  East,  and  knelt  and  said,  Holy 
Mary  Mother,  and  all  Saints,  pray  to  God  for  me,  that  he  may  give 
me  strength  to  destroy  all  the  Pagans,  and  to  win  enough  from 
them  to  requite  my  friends  therewith,  and  all  those  who  follow  and 
help  me.     Then  he  called  for  Alvar  Fanez  and  said  unto  him, 
Cousin,  the  poor  have  no  part  in  the  wrong  which  the  King  hath 
done  us ;  see  now  that  no  wrong  be  done  unto  them  along  our 
road  :  and  he  called  for  his  horse.     And  then  an  old  woman  who 
was  standing  at  her  door  said,  Go  in  a  lucky  minute,  and  make 
spoil  of  whatever  you  wish.     And  with  this  proverb  he  rode  on, 
saying,  Friends,  by  God's  good  pleasure  we  shall  return  to  Castile 
with  great  honour  and  great  gain.      And  as  they  went  out  from 
Bivar  they  had  a  crow  on  their  right  hand,  and  when  they  came  to 
Burgos  they  had  a  crow  on  the  left. 

XX.  My  Cid  Ruydiez  entered  Burgos,  having  sixty  streamers  in 
his  company.    And  men  and  women  went  forth  to  see  him,  and  the 
men  of  Burgos  and  the  women  of  Burgos  were  at  their  windows, 
weeping,  so  great  was  their  sorrow  ;  and  they  said  with  one  accord, 
God,  how  good  a  vassal  if  he  had  but  a  good  Lord  !  and  willingly 
would  each  have  bade  him  come  in,  but  no  one  dared  so  to  do. 
For  King  Don  Alfonso  in  his  anger  had  sent  letters  to  Burgos,  say- 
ing that  no  man  should  give  the  Cid  a  lodging  ;  and  that  whosoever 
disobeyed  should  lose  all  that  he  had,  and  moreover  the  eyes  in  his 
head.     Great  sorrow  had  these  Christian  folk  at  this,  and  they  hid 
themselves  when  he  came  near  them  because  they  did  not  dare 
speak  to  him  ;  and  my  Cid  went  to  his  Posada,  and  when  he  came 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  281 

to  the  door  he  found  it  fastened,  for  fear  of  the  King.  And  his 
people  called  out  with  a  loud  voice,  but  they  within  made  no  an- 
swer. And  the  Cid  rode  up  to  the  door,  and  took  his  foot  out  of 
the  stirrup,  and  gave  it  a  kick,  buf  the  door  did  not  open  with  it, 
for  it  was  well  secured ;  a  little  girl  of  nine  years  old  then  came 
out  of  one  of  the  houses  and  said  unto  him,  O  Cid,  the  King  hath 
forbidden  us  to  receive  you.  We  dare  not  open  our  doors  to  you, 
for  we  should  lose  our  houses  and  all  that  we  have,  and  the  eyes  in 
our  head.  Cid,  our  evil  would  not  help  you,  but  God  and  all  his 
Saints  be  with  you.  And  when  she  had  said  this  she  returned  into 
the  house.  And  when  the  Cid  knew  what  the  King  had  done  he 
turned  away  from  the  door  and  rode  up  to  St.  Mary's,  and  there 
he  alighted  and  knelt  down,  and  prayed  with  all  his  heart ;  and  then 
he  mounted  again  and  rode  out  of  the  town,  and  pitched  his  tent 
near  Arlanzon,  upon  the  Glera,  that  is  to  say,  upon  the  sands.  My 
Cid  Ruydiez,  he  who  in  a  happy  hour  first  girt  on  his  sword,  took 
up  his  lodging  upon  the  sands,  because  there  was  none  who  would 
receive  him  within  their  door.  He  had  a  good  company  round 
about  him,  and  there  he  lodged  as  if  he  had  been  among  the  moun- 
tains. 

XXI.  Moreover  the  King  had  given  orders  that  no  food  should 
be  sold  them  in  Burgos,  so  that  they  could  not  buy  even  a  penny- 
worth. But  Martin  Antolinez,  who  was  a  good  Burgalese,  he  sup- 
plied my  Cid  and  all  his  company  with  bread  and  wine  abundantly. 
Campeador,  said  he  to  the  Cid,  to-night  will  we  rest  here,  and  to- 
morrow we  will  be  gone  :  I  shall  be  accused  for  what  I  have  done 
in  serving  you,  and  shall  be  in  the  King's  displeasure  ;  but  following 
your  fortunes,  sooner  or  later,  the  King  will  have  me  for  his  friend, 
and  if  not,  I  do  not  care  a  fig  for  what  I  leave  behind.  Now  this 
Martin  Antolinez  was  nephew  unto  the  Cid,  being  the  son  of  his 
brother,  Ferrando  Diaz.  And  the  Cid  said  unto  him,  Martin  An- 
tolinez, you  are  a  bold  Lancer ;  if  I  live  I  will  double  you  your  pay. 
You  see  I  have  nothing  with  me,  and  yet  must  provide  for  my  com- 
panions. I  will  take  two  chests  and  fill  them  with  sand,  and  do 
you  go  in  secret  to  Rachel  and  Vidas,  and  tell  them  to  come  hither 
privately ;  for  I  cannot  take  my  treasures  with  me  because  of  their 
weight,  and  will  pledge  them  in  their  hands.  Let  them  come 
for  the  chests  at  night,  that  no  man  may  see  them.  God  knows 
that  I  do  this  thing  more  of  necessity  than  of  wilfulness ;  but  by 
God's  good  help  I  shall  redeem  all.  Now  Rachel  and  Vidas  were 
rich  Jews,  from  whom  the  Cid  used  to  receive  money  for  his  spoils. 
And  Martin  Antolinez  went  in  quest  of  them,  and  he  passed  through 


282  CHRONICLE    Of   THE    CW, 

Burgos  and  entered  into  the  Castle ;  and  when  he  saw  them  he  said, 
Ah,  Rachel  and  Vidas,  my  dear  friends  !  now  let  me  speak  with  ye 
in  secret  And  they  three  went  apart.  And  he  said  to  them,  Give 
me  your  hands  that  you  will  not  discover  me  neither  to  Moor  nor 
Christian  !  I  will  make  you  rich  men  for  ever.  The  Campeadcr 
went  for  the  tribute  and  he  took  great  wealth,  and  some  of  it  he 
has  kept  for  himself.  He  has  two  chests  full  of  gold ;  ye  know  that 
the  King  is  in  anger  against  him,  and  he  cannot  carry  these  away 
with  him  without  their  being  seen.  He  will  leave  them  therefore 
in  your  hands,  and  you  shall  lend  him  money  upon  them,  swearing 
with  great  oaths  and  upon  your  faith,  that  ye  will  not  open  them  till 
a  year  be  past.  Rachel  and  Vidas  took  counsel  together  and  an- 
swered, We  well  knew  he  got  something  when  he  entered  the  land 
of  the  Moors ;  he  who  has  treasures  does  not  sleep  without  sus- 
picion ;  we  will  take  the  chests,  and  place  them  where  they  shall  not 
be  seen.  But  tell  us  with  what  will  the  Cid  be  contented,  and  what 
gain  will  he  give  us  for  the  year?  Martin  Antolinez  answered  like 
a  prudent  man,  My  Cid  requires  what  is  reasonable ;  he  will  ask 
but  little  to  leave  his  treasures  in  safety.  Men  come  to  him  from 
all  parts.  He  must  have  six  hundred  marks.  And  the  Jews  said, 
We  will  advance  him  so  much.  Well  then,  said  Martin  Antoline/,, 
ye  see  that  the  night  is  advancing ;  the  Cid  is  in  haste,  give  us  the 
marks.  This  is  not  the  way  of  business,  said  they ;  we  must  take 
first,  and  then  give.  Ye  say  well,  replied  the  Burgalese  ;  come  then 
to  the  Campeador,  and  we  will  help  you  to  bring  away  the  chests, 
so  that  neither  Moors  nor  Christians  may  see  us.  So  they  went  to 
horse  and  rode  out  together,  and  they  did  not  cross  the  bridge,  but 
rode  through  the  water  that  no  man  might  see  them,  and  they  came 
to  the  tent  of  the  Cid. 

XXII.  Meantime  the  Cid  had  taken  two  chests,  which  wen- 
covered  with  leather  of  red  and  gold,  and  the  nails  which  fastened 
down  the  leather  were  well  gilt ;  they  were  ribbed  with  bands  of 
iron,  and  each  fastened  with  three  locks ;  they  were  heavy,  and  he 
filled  them  with  sand.  And  when  Rachel  and  Vidas  entered  his 
tent  with  Martin  Antolinez,  they  kissed  his  hand;  and  the  C'id 
smiled  and  said  to  them,  Ye  see  that  I  am  going  out  of  the  land, 
because  of  the  King's  displeasure  ;  but  I  shall  leave  something  with 
ye.  And  they  made  answer,  Martin  Antolinez  has  covenanted  with 
us,  that  we  shall  give  you  six  hundred  marks  upon  these  chests, 
and  keep  them  a  full  year,  swearing  not  to  open  them  till  that  time 
be  expired,  else  shall  we  be  perjured.  Take  the  chests,  said  Mar- 
tin Antolinez ;  I  will  go  with  you,  and  bring  back  the  marks,  for 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  283 

my  Cid  must  move  before  cockcrow.  So  they  took  the  chests,  and 
though  they  were  both  strong  men  they  could  not  raise  them  from 
the  ground ;  and  they  were  full  glad  of  the  bargain  which  they  had 
made.  And  Rachel  then  went  to  the  Cid  and  kissed  his  hand  and 
said,  Now,  Campeador,  you  are  going  from  Castile  among  strange 
nations,  and  your  gain  will  be  great,  even  as  your  fortune  is.  I 
kiss  your  hand,  Cid,  and  have  a  gift  for  you,  a  red  skin  ;  it  is  Moor- 
ish and  honourable.  And  the  Cid  said,  It  pleases  me  :  give  it  me 
if  ye  have  brought  it,  if  not  reckon  it  upon  the  chests.  And  they 
departed  with  the  chests,  and  Martin  Antolinez  and  his  people 
helped  them,  and  went  with  them.  And  when  they  had  placed 
the  chests  in  safety,  they  spread  a  carpet  in  the  middle  of  the  hall, 
and  laid  a  sheet  upon  it,  and  they  threw  down  upon  it  three  hun- 
dred marks  of  silver.  Don  Martin  counted  them,  and  took  them 
without  weighing.  The  other  three  hundred  they  paid  in  gold. 
Don  Martin  had  five  squires  with  him,  and  he  loaded  them  all  with 
the  money.  And  when  this  was  done  he  said  to  them,  Now  Don 
Rachel  and  Vidas,  you  have  got  the  chests,  and  I  who  got  them 
for  you  well  deserve  a  pair  of  hose.  And  the  Jews  said  to  each 
other,  Let  us  give  him  a  good  gift  for  this  which  he  has  done  ;  and 
they  said  to  him,  We  will  give  you  enough  for  hose  and  for  a  rich 
doublet  and  a  good  cloak ;  you  shall  have  thirty  marks.  Don 
Martin  thanked  them  and  took  the  marks,  and  bidding  them  both 
farewell,  he  departed  right  joyfully. 

XXIII.  When  Martin  Antolinez  came  into  the  Cid's  tent  he 
said  unto  him,  I  have  sped  well,  'Campeador !  you  have  gained  six 
hundred  marks,  and  I  thirty.  Now  then  strike  your  tent  and  be 
gone.  The  time  draws  on,  and  you  may  be  with  your  Lady  Wife 
at  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  before  the  cock  crows.  So  the  tent  was 
struck,  and  my  Cid  and  his  company  went  to  horse  at  this  early 
hour.  And  the  Cid  turned  his  horse's  head  toward  St.  Mary's,  and 
with  his  right  hand  he  blessed  himself  on  the  forehead,  and  he 
said,  God  be  praised  :  help  me,  St.  Mary.  I  go  from  Castile  be- 
cause the  anger  of  the  King  is  against  me,  and  I  know  not  whether 
I  shall  ever  enter  it  again  in  all  my  days.  Help  me,  glorious  Vir- 
gin, in  my  goings,  both  by  night  and  by  day.  If  you  do  this  and 
my  lot  be  fair,  I  will  send  rich  and  goodly  gifts  to  your  altar,  and 
will  have  a  thousand  masses  sung  there.  Then  with  a  good  heart 
he  gave  his  horse  the  reins.  And  Martin  Antolinez  said  to  him, 
Go  ye  on ;  I  must  back  to  my  wife  and  tell  her  what  she  is  to  do 
during  my  absence.  I  shall  be  with  you  in  good  time.  And  back 
he  went  to  Burgos,  and  my  Cid  and  his  company  pricked  on. 


284  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

The  cocks  were  crowing  amain,  and  the  day  began  to  break,  when 
the  good  Campeador  reached  St.  Pedro's.  The  Abbot  Don  Sise- 
buto  was  saying  matins,  and  Dona  Ximena  and  five  of  her  ladies 
of  good  lineage  were  with  him,  praying  to  God  and  St.  Peter  to 
help  my  Cid.  And  when  he  called  at  the  gate  and  they  knew  his 
voice,  God,  what  a  joyful  man  was  the  Abbot  Don  Sisebuto  !  Out 
into  the  courtyard  they  went  with  torches  and  with  tapers,  and  the 
Abbot  gave  thanks  to  God  that  he  now  beheld  the  face  of  my  Cid. 
And  the  Cid  told  him  all  that  had  befallen  him,  and  how  he  was 
a  banished  man ;  and  he  gave  him  fifty  marks  for  himself,  and  a 
hundred  for  Dona  Ximena  and  her  children.  Abbot,  said  he,  I 
leave  two  little  girls  behind  me,  whom  I  commend  to  your  care. 
Take  you  care  of  them  and  of  my  wife  and  of  her  ladies  :  when 
this  money  be  gone,  if  it  be  not  enough,  supply  them  abundantly : 
for  every  mark  which  you  expend  upon  them  I  will  give  the  Mon- 
astery four.  And  the  Abbot  promised  to  do  this  with  a  right  good 
will.  Then  Dona  Ximena  came  up  and  her  daughters  with  her, 
each  of  them  borne  in  arms,  and  she  knelt  down  on  both  her  knees 
before  her  husband,  weeping  bitterly,  and  she  would  have  kissed 
his  hand ;  and  she  said  to  him,  Lo,  now  you  are  banished  from  the 
land  by  mischief-making  men,  and  here  am  I  with  your  daughters, 
who  are  little  ones  and  of  tender  years,  and  we  and  you  must  be 
parted,  even  in  your  lifetime.  For  the  love  of  St.  Mary  tell  me 
now  what  we  shall  do.  And  the  Cid  took  the  children  in  his  arms, 
and  held  them  to  his  heart  and  wept,  for  he  dearly  loved  them. 
Please  God  and  St.  Mary,  said  he,  I  shall  yet  live  to  give  these  my 
daughters  in  marriage  with  my  own  hands,  and  to  do  you  service 
yet,  my  honoured  wife,  whom  I  have  ever  loved,  even  as  my  own 
soul. 

XXIV.  A  great  feast  did  they  make  that  day  in  the  Monastery 
for  the  good  Campeador,  and  the  bells  of  St.  Pedro's  rung  merrily. 
Meantime  the  tidings  had  gone  through  Castile  how  my  Cid  was 
banished  from  the  land,  and  great  was  the  sorrow  of  the  people. 
Some  left  their  houses  to  follow  him,  others  forsook  their  honour- 
able offices  which  they  held.  And  that  day  a  hundred  and  fifteen 
knights  assembled  at  the  bridge  of  Arlanzon,  all  in  quest  of  my 
( 'id  ;  and  there  Martin  Antolinez  joined  them,  and  they  rode  on 
together  to  St.  Pedro's.  And  when  he  of  Bivar  knew  what  a 
goodly  company  were  coming  to  join  him,  he  rejoiced  in  his  own 
strength,  and  rode  out  to  meet  them  and  greeted  them  full  courte- 
ously ;  and  they  kissed  his  hand,  and  he  said  to  them,  I  pray  to 
( iod  that  I  may  one  day  requite  ye  well,  because  ye  have  forsaken 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  285 

your  houses  and  your  heritages  for  my  sake,  and  I  trust  that  I 
shall  pay  ye  twofold.  Six  days  of  the  term  allotted  were  now  gone, 
and  three  only  remained  :  if  after  that  time  he  should  be  found 
within  the  King's  dominions,  neither  for  gold  nor  for  silver  could 
he  then  escape.  That  day  they  feasted  together,  and  when  it  was 
evening  the  Cid  distributed  among  them  all  that  he  had,  giving  to 
each  man  according  to  what  he  was ;  and  he  told  them  that  they 
must  meet  at  mass  after  matins,  and  depart  at  that  early  hour. 
Before  the  cock  crew  they  were  ready,  and  the  Abbot  said  the 
mass  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  when  it  was  done  they  left  the 
church  and  went  to  horse.  And  my  Cid  embraced  Dona  Ximena 
and  his  daughters,  and  blessed  them ;  and  the  parting  between 
them  was  like  separating  the  nail  from  the  quick  flesh :  and  he 
wept  and  continued  to  look  round  after  them.  Then  Alvar  Fanez 
came  up  to  him  and  said,  Where  is  your  courage,  my  Cid  ?  In  a 
good  hour  were  you  born  of  woman.  Think  of  our  road  now ; 
these  sorrows  will  yet  be  turned  into  joy.  And  Cid  spake  again 
to  the  Abbot,  commending  his  family  to  his  care  ;  —  well  did  the 
Abbot  know  that  he  should  one  day  receive  good  guerdon.  And 
as  he  took  leave  of  the  Cid,  Alvar  Fanez  said  to  him,  Abbot,  if 
you  see  any  who  come  to  follow  us,  tell  them  what  route  we  take, 
and  bid  them  make  speed,  for  they  may  reach  us  either  in  the 
waste  or  in  the  peopled  country.  And  then  they  loosed  the  reins 
and  pricked  forward. 

XXV.  That  night  my  Cid  lay  at  Spinar  de  Can,  and  people 
flocked  to  him  from  all  parts,  and  early  on  the  morrow  he  set  out ; 
Santestevan  lay  on  his  left  hand,  which  is  a  good  city,  and  Ahilon 
on  the  right,  which  belongs  to  the  Moors,  and  he  passed  by  Alco- 
biella,  which  is  the  boundary  of  Castile.  And  he  went  by  the 
Calzada  de  Quinea,  and  crossed  the  Douro  upon  rafts.  That 
night,  being  the  eighth,  they  rested  at  Figeruela,  and  more  adven- 
turers came  to  join  him.  And  when  my  Cid  was  fast  asleep,  the 
Angel  Gabriel  appeared  to  him  in  a  vision,  and  said,  Go  on  boldly 
and  fear  nothing ;  for  everything  shall  go  well  with  thee  as  long  as 
thou  livest,  and  all  things  which  thou  beginnest,  thou  shalt  bring 
to  good  end,  and  thou  shalt  be  rich  and  honourable.  And  the  Cid 
awoke  and  blessed  himself:  and  he  crossed  his  forehead  and  rose 
from  his  bed,  and  knelt  down  and  gave  thanks  to  God  for  the 
mercy  which  he  had  vouchsafed  him,  being  right  joyful  because  of 
the  vision.  Early  on  the  morrow  they  set  forth  ;  now  this  was  the  last 
day  of  the  nine.  And  they  went  on  towards  the  Sierra  de  Miedes. 
Before  sunset  the  Cid  halted  and  took  account  of  his  company ; 


286 


CUKOXICI.E    OF  THE    C1D, 


there  were  three  hundred  lances,  all  with  streamers,  beside  foot- 
soldiers.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Now  take  and  eat,  for  we  must 
pass  this  great  and  wild  Sierra,  that  we  may  quit  the  land  of  King 
Alfonso  this  night.  To-morrow  he  who  seeks  us  may  find  us.  So 
they  passed  the  Sierra  that  night. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  287 


BOOK    IV. 

I.  Now  hath  my  Cid  left  the  kingdom  of  King  Don  Alfonso, 
and  entered  the  country  of  the  Moors.     And  at  daybreak  they 
were  near  the  brow  of  the  Sierra,  and  they  halted  there  upon  the 
top  of  the  mountains,  and  gave  barley  to  their  horses,  and  remained 
there  until  evening.     And  they  set  forward  when  the  evening  had 
closed,  that  none  might  see  them,  and  continued  their  way  all 
night,  and  before  dawn  they  came  near  to  Castrejon,  which  is  upon 
the  Henares.     And  Alvar  Fanez  said  unto  the  Cid,  that  he  would 
take  with  him  two  hundred  horsemen,  and  scour  the  country  as  far 
as  Fita  and  Guadalajara  and  Alcala,  and  lay  hands  on  whatever  he 
could  find,  without  fear  either  of  King  Alfonso  or  of  the  Moors. 
And  he  counselled  him  to  remain  in  ambush  where  he  was,  and 
surprise  the  castle  of  Castrejon  :  and  it  seemed  good  unto  my  Cid. 
Away  went  Alvar  Fanez,  and  Alvar  Alvarez  with  him,  and  Alvar 
SaK  adores,  and  Galin  Garcia,  and  the  two  hundred  horsemen  ;  and 
the  Cid  remained  in  ambush  with  the  rest  of  his  company.     And 
as  soon  as  it  was  morning,  the  Moors  of  Castrejon,  knowing  noth- 
ing of  these  who  were  so  near  them,  opened  the  castle  gates,  and 
went  out  to  their  work  as  they  were  wont  to  do.     And  the  Cid 
rose  from  ambush  and  fell  upon  them,  and  took  all  their  flocks, 
and  made  straight  for  the  gates,  pursuing  them.     And  there  was  a 
cry  within  the  castle  that  the  Christians  were  upon  them,  and  they 
who  were  within  ran  to  the  gates  to  defend  them,  but  my  Cid 
came  up  sword  in  hand ;  eleven  Moors  did  he  slay  with  his  own 
hand,  and  they  forsook  the  gate  and  fled  before  him  to  hide  them- 
selves within,  so  that  he  won  the  castle  presently,  and  took  gold 
and  silver,  and  whatever  else  he  would. 

II.  Alvar   Fanez   meantime   scoured    the    country   along    the 
Henares  as  far  as  Alcala,  and  he  returned  driving  flocks  and  herds 
before  him,  with  great  stores  of  wearing  apparel,  and  of  other  plun- 
der.    He  came  with  the  banner  of  Minaya,  and  there  were  none 
who  dared  fall  upon  his  rear.     And  when  the  Cid  knew  that  he 
was  nigh  at  hand  he  went  out  to  meet  him,  and  praised  him 
greatly  for  what  he  had  done,  and  gave  thanks  to  God.     And  he 


288  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

gave  order  that  all  the  spoils  should  be  heaped  together,  both  what 
Alvar  Fanez  had  brought,  and  what  had  been  taken  in  the  castle  ; 
and  he  said  to  him,  Brother,  of  all  this  which  God  hath  given  us, 
take  you  the  fifth,  for  you  well  deserve  it ;  but  Minaya  would  not, 
saying,  You  have  need  of  it  for  our  support.  And  the  Cid  divided 
the  spoil  among  the  knights  and  foot-soldiers,  to  each  his  due  por- 
tion ;  to  every  horseman  a  hundred  marks  of  silver,  and  half  as 
much  to  the  foot-soldiers :  and  because  he  could  find  none  to 
whom  to  sell  his  fifth,  he  spake  to  the  Moors  of  Castrejon,  and 
sent  to  those  of  Fita  and  Guadalajara,  telling  them  that  they  might 
come  safely  to  purchase  the  spoil,  and  the  prisoners  also  whom  he 
had  taken,  both  men-prisoners  and  women,  for  he  would  have  none 
with  him.  And  they  came,  and  valued  the  spoil  and  the  prison- 
ers, and  gave  for  them  three  thousand  marks  of  silver,  which  they 
paid  within  three  days  :  they  bought  also  much  of  the  spoil  which 
had  been  divided,  making  great  gain,  so  that  all  who  were  in  my 
Cid's  company  were  full  rich.  And  the  heart  of  my  Cid  was  joy- 
ous, and  he  sent  to  King  Don  Alfonso,  telling  him  that  he  and  his 
companions  would  yet  do  him  service  upon  the  Moors. 

III.  Then  my  Cid  assembled  together  his  good  men  and  said 
unto  them,  Friends,  we  cannot  take  up  our  abode  in  this  Castle, 
for  there  is  no  water  in  it,  and  moreover  the  King  is  at  peace  with 
these  Moors,  and  I  know  that  the  treaty  between  them  hath  been 
written  ;  so  that  if  we  should  abide  here  he  would  come  against  us 
with  all  his  power,  and  with  all  the  power  of  the  Moors,  and  we 
could  not  stand  against  him.  If  therefore  it  seem  good  unto  you, 
let  us  leave  the  rest  of  our  prisoners  here,  for  it  does  not  beseem 
us  to  take  any  with  us,  but  to  be  as  free  from  all  incumbrance  as 
may  be,  like  men  who  are  to  live  by  war,  and  to  help  ourselves 
with  our  arms.  And  it  pleased  them  well  that  it  should  be  so. 
And  he  said  to  them,  Ye  have  all  had  your  shares,  neither  is  there 
anything  owing  to  any  one  among  ye.  Now  then  let  us  be  ready 
to  take  horse  betimes  on  the  morrow,  for  I  would  not  fight  against 
my  Lord  the  King.  So  on  the  morrow  they  went  to  horse  and 
departed,  being  rich  with  the  spoils  which  they  had  won  ;  and  they 
left  the  castle  to  the  Moors,  who  remained  blessing  them  for  this 
bounty  which  they  had  received  at  their  hands.  Then  my  Cid 
and  his  company  went  up  the  Henares  as  fast  as  they  could  go, 
and  they  passed  by  the  Alcarias,1  and  by  the  caves  of  Anquita,  and 

1  Alcaria  signifies  a  cottage.  The  word  however  is  used  in  the  Poem  as 
the  name  of  a  place,  as  we  should  speak  of  a  few  dwelling-houses  standing 
together  in  an  open  country. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  289 

through  the  waters,  and  they  entered  the  plain  of  Torancio,  and 
halted  between  Fariza  and  Cetina  ;  great  were  the  spoils  which  they 
collected  as  they  went  along.  And  on  the  morrow  they  passed  Al- 
fama,  and  leaving  the  Gorge  below  them  they  passed  Bobierca, 
and  Teca  which  is  beyond  it,  and  came  against  Alcocer.  There 
my  Cid  pitched  his  tents  upon  a  round  hill,  which  was  a  great  hill 
and  a  strong ;  and  the  river  Salon  ran  near  them,  so  that  the  wa- 
ter could  not  be  cut  off.  My  Cid  thought  to  take  Alcocer ;  so  he 
pitched  his  tents  securely,  having  the  Sierra  on  one  side,  and  the 
river  on  the  other,  and  he  made  all  his  people  dig  a  trench,  that 
they  might  not  be  alarmed,  neither  by  day  nor  by  night. 

IV.  When  my  Cid  had  thus  encamped,  he  went  to  look  at  the 
Alcazar,  and  see  if  he  could  by  any  means  enter  it.  And  the 
Moors  offered  tribute  to  him  if  he  would  leave  them  in  peace  ;  but 
this  he  would  not  do,  and  he  lay  before  the  town.  And  news 
went  through  all  the  land  that  the  Cid  was  come  among  them,  and 
they  of  Calatayud  were  in  fear.  And  my  Cid  lay  before  Alcocer 
fifteen  weeks ;  and  when  he  saw  that  the  town  did  not  surrender, 
he  ordered  his  people  to  break  up  their  camp,  as  if  they  were  fly- 
ing, and  they  left  one  of  their  tents  behind  them,  and  took  their 
way  along  the  Salon,  with  their  banners  spread.  And  when  the 
Moors  saw  this  they  rejoiced  greatly,  and  there  was  a  great  stir 
among  them,  and  they  praised  themselves  for  what  they  had  done 
in  withstanding  him,  and  said,  that  the  Cid's  bread  and  barley  had 
failed  him,  and  he  had  fled  away,  and  left  one  of  his  tents  behind 
him.  And  they  said  among  themselves,  Let  us  pursue  them  and 
spoil  them,  for  if  they  of  Teruel  should  be  before  us  the  honour 
and  the  profit  will  be  theirs  and  we  shall  have  nothing.  And  they 
went  out  after  him,  great  and  little,  leaving  the"  gates  open  and 
shouting  as  they  went ;  and  there  was  not  left  in  the  town  a  man 
who  could  bear  arms.  And  when  my  Cid  saw  them  coming  he 
gave  orders  to  quicken  their  speed,  as  if  he  was  in  fear,  and  would 
not  let  his  people  turn  till  the  Moors  were  far  enough  from  the 
town.  But  when  he  saw  that  there  was  a  good  distance  between 
them  and  the  gates,  then  he  bade  his  banner  turn,  and  spurred 
towards  them,  crying,  Lay  on,  knights ;  by  God's  mercy  the  spoil 
is  our  own.  God  !  what  a  good  joy  was  theirs  that  morning  !  My 
Cid's  vassals  laid  on  without  mercy ;  —  in  one  hour,  and  in  a  little 
space,  three  hundred  Moors  were  slain,  and  the  Cid  and  Alvar 
Fanez  had  good  horses,  and  got  between  them  and  the  Castle,  and 
stood  in  the  gateway  sword  in  hand,  and  there  was  a  great  mortal- 
ity among  the  Moors  ;  and  my  Cid  won  the  place,  and  Pero 


290  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

Bermudez  planted  his  banner  upon  the  highest  point  of  the  Castle. 
And  the  Cid  said,  Blessed  be  God,  and  all  his  Saints,  we  have  bet- 
tered our  quarters  both  for  horses  and  men.  And  he  said  to  Alvar 
Fanez  and  all  his  knights,  Hear  me,  we  shall  get  nothing  by  killing 
these  Moors; — let  us  take  them  and  they  shall  show  us  their 
treasures  which  they  have  hidden  in  their  houses,  and  we  will  dwell 
here  and  they  shall  serve  us.  In  this  manner  did  my  Cid  win 
Alcocer,  and  take  up  his  abode  therein. 

V.  Much  did  this  trouble  the  Moors  of  Teca,  and  it  did  not 
please  those  of  Teruel,  nor  of  Calatayud.     And  they  sent  to  the 
King  of  Valencia  to  tell  him  that  one  who  was  called  Ruydiez  the 
Cid,  whom  King  Don  Alfonso  had  banished,  was  come  into  their 
country,  and  had  taken  Alcocer  ;  and  if  a  stop  were  not  put  to  him, 
the  King  might  look  upon  Teca  and  Teruel  and  Calatayud  as  lost, 
for  nothing  could  stand  against  him,  and  he  had  plundered  the 
whole  country,  along  the  Salon  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Siloca  on 
the  other.     When  the  King  of  Valencia,  whose  name  was  Alcamin, 
heard  this,  he  was  greatly  troubled.     And  incontinently  he  spake 
unto  two  Moorish  Kings  who  were  his  vassals,  bidding  them  take 
three  thousand  horsemen,  and  all  the  men  of  the  border,  and  bring 
the  Cid  to  him  alive,  that  he  might  make  atonement  to  him  for 
having  entered  his  land. 

VI.  Fariz  and  Galve  were  the  names  of  these  two  Moorish  Kings, 
and  they  set  out  with  the  companies  of  King  Alcamin  from  Valen- 
cia, and  halted  the  first  night  in  Segorve,  and  the  second  night  at 
Celfa  de  Cenal.     And  they  sent  their  messengers  through  the  land 
to  all  the  Councils  thereof,  ordering  all  men  at  arms,  as  well  horse- 
men as  footmen,  to  join  them,  and  the  third  night  they  halted  at 
Calatayud,  and  great  numbers  joined  them ;  and  they  came  up 
against  Alcocer,  and  pitched  their  tents  round  about  the  Castle. 
Every  day  their  host  increased,  for  their  people  were  many  in  num- 
ber, and  their  watchmen  kept  watch  day  and  night ;  and  my  Cid 
had  no  succour  to  look  for  except  the  mercy  of  God,  in  which  he 
put  his  trust.     And  the  Moors  beset  them  so  close  that  they  cut 
off  their  water,  and  albeit  the  Castilians  would  have  sallied  against 
them,  my  Cid  forbade  this.     In  this  guise  were  my  Cid  and  his 
people  besieged  for  three  weeks,  and  when  the  fourth  week  began, 

'he  called  for  Alvar  Fanez,  and  for  his  company,  and  said  unto 
them,  Ye  see  that  the  Moors  have  cut  off  our  water,  and  we  have 
but  little  bread ;  they  gather  numbers  day  by  day,  and  we  become 
weak,  and  they  are  in  their  own  country.  If  we  would  depart  they 
would  not  let  us,  and  we  cannot  go  out  by  night  because  they  have 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  291 

beset  us  round  about  on  all  sides,  and  we  cannot  pass  on  high 
through  the  air,  neither  through  the  earth  which  is  underneath. 
Now  then  if  it  please  you  let  us  go  out  and  fight  with  them,  though 
they  are  many  in  number,  and  either  defeat  them  or  die  an  hon- 
ourable death. 

VII.  Then  Minaya  answered  and  said,  We  have  left  the  gentle 
land  of  Castile,  and  are  come  hither  as  banished  men,  and  if  we 
do  not  beat  the  Moors  they  will  not  give  us  food.     Now,  though 
we  are  but  few,  yet  are  we  of  a  good  stock,  and  of  one  heart  and 
one  will ;  by  God's  help  let  us  go  out  and  smite  them  to-morrow, 
early  in  the  morning,  and  you  who  are  not  in  a  state  of  penitence, 
go  and  shrive  yourselves  and  repent  ye  of  your  sins.     And  they  all 
held  that  what  Alvar  Fanez  had  said  was  good.     And  my  Cid  an- 
swered, Minaya,  you  have  spoken  as  you  should  do.    Then  ordered 
he  all  the  Moors,  both  men  and  women,  to  be  thrust  out  of  the 
town,  that  it  might  not  be  known  what  they  were  preparing  to  do ; 
and  the  rest  of  that  day  and  the  night  also  they  passed  in  making 
ready  for  the  battle.     And   on   the  morrow   at   sunrise   the   Cid 
gave  his  banner  to  Pero  Bermudez,  and  bade  him  bear  it  boldly 
like  a  good  man  as  he  was,  but  he  charged  him  not  to  thrust  for- 
ward with  it  without  his  bidding.     And  Pero  Bermudez  kissed  his 
hand,  being  well  pleased.     Then  leaving  only  two  foot-soldiers  to 
keep  the  gates,  they  issued  out ;  and  the  Moorish  scouts  saw  them 
and  hastened  to  the  camp.     Then  was  there  such  a  noisS  of  tam- 
bours as  if  the  earth  would  have  been  broken,  and  the  Moors  armed 
themselves  in  great  haste.     Two  royal  banners  were  there,  and  five 
city  ones,  and  they  drew  up  their  men  into  great  bodies,  and  moved 
on,  thinking  to  take  my  Cid  and  all  his  company  alive ;  and  my 
Cid  bade  his  men  remain  still  and  not  move  till  he  should  bid  them. 

VIII.  Pero  Bermudez  could  not  bear  this,  but  holding  the  ban- 
ner in  his  hand,  he  cried,  God  help  you,  Cid  Campeador ;  I  shall 
put  your  banner  in  the  middle  of  that  main  body ;  and  you  who 
are  bound  to  stand  by  it  —  I  shall  see  how  you  will  succour  it.     And 
he  began  to  prick  forward.     And  the  Campeador  called  unto  him 
to  stop  as  he  loved  him,  but  Pero  Bermudez  replied  he  would 
stop  for  nothing,  and  away  he  spurred  and  carried  his  banner  into 
the  middle  of  the  great  body  of  the  Moors.     And  the  Moors  fell 
upon  him  '.hat  they  might  win  the  banner,  and  beset  him  on  all  sides, 
giving  him  many  and  great  blows  to  beat  him  down  ;  nevertheless 
his  arms  were  proof,  and  they  could  not  pierce  them,  neither  could 
they  beat  him  down,  nor  force  the  banner  from  him,  for  he  was  a 
right  brave  man  and  a  strong,  and  a  good  horseman,  and  of  great 


292  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

heart.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  him  thus  beset  he  called  to  his 
people  to  move  on  and  help  him.  Then  placed  they  their  shields 
before  their  hearts,  and  lowered  their  lances  with  the  streamers 
thereon,  and  bending  fonvard,  rode  on.  Three  hundred  lances 
were  they,  each  with  its  pendant,  and  every  man  at  the  first  charge 
slew  his  Moor.  Smite  them,  knights,  for  the  love  of  charity,  cried 
the  Campeador.  I  am  Ruydiez,  the  Cid  of  Bivar  !  Many  a  shield 
was  pierced  that  day,  and  many  a  false  corselet  was  broken,  and 
many  a  white  streamer  dyed  with  blood,  and  many  a  horse  left  with- 
out a  rider.  The  Misbelievers  called  on  Mahomet,  and  the  Chris- 
tians on  Santiago,  and  the  noise  of  the  tambours  and  of  the  trumpets 
was  so  great  that  none  could  hear  his  neighbour.  And  my  Cid  and 
his  company  succoured  Pero  Bermudez,  and  they  rode  through  the 
host  of  the  Moors,  slaying  as  they  went,  and  they  rode  back  again 
in  like  manner ;  thirteen  hundred  did  they  kill  in  this  guise.  If 
you  would  know  who  they  were,  who  were  the  good  men  of  that 
day,  it  behoves  me  to  tell  you,  for  though  they  are  departed,  it  is 
not  fitting  that  the  names  of  those  who  have  done  well  should  die, 
nor  would  they  who  have  done  well  themselves,  or  who  hope  so  to 
do,  think  it  right ;  for  good  men  would  not  be  so  bound  to  do  well, 
if  their  good  feats  should  be  kept  silent.  There  was  my  Cid,  the 
good  man  in  battle,  who  fought  well  upon  his  gilt  saddle  ;  and  Alvar 
Fanez  Minaya,  and  Martin  Antolinez  the  Burgalese  of  prowess,  and 
Muno  Gustios,  and  Martin  Munoz  who  held  Montemayor,  and  Al- 
var Alvarez,  and  Alvar  Salvadores,  and  Galin  Garcia  the  good  one 
of  Arragon,  and  Felez  Munoz  the  nephew  of  the  Campeador.  Wher- 
ever my  Cid  went,  the  Moors  made  a  path  before  him,  for  he  smote 
them  down  without  mercy.  And  while  the  battle  still  continued, 
the  Moors  killed  the  horse  of  Alvar  Fanez,  and  his  lance  was  broken, 
and  he  fought  bravely  with  his  sword  afoot.  And  my  Cid,  seeing 
him,  came  up  to  an  Alguazil  who  rode  upon  a  good  horse,  and  smote 
him  with  his  sword  under  the  right  arm,  so  that  he  cut  him  through 
and  through,  and  he  gave  the  horse  to  Alvar  Fanez,  saying,  Mount, 
Minaya,  for  you  are  my  right  hand: 

IX.  When  Alvar  Fanez  was  thus  remounted,  they  fell  upon  the 
Moors  again,  and  by  this  time  the  Moors  were  greatly  disheartened, 
having  suffered  so  great  loss,  and  they  began  to  give  way.  And 
my  Cid,  seeing  King  Fariz,  made  towards  him,  smiting  down  all 
who  were  in  his  way ;  and  he  came  up  to  him,  and  made  three 
blows  at  him ;  two  of  them  failed,  but  the  third  was  a  good  one, 
and  went  through  his  cuirass,  so  that  the  blood  ran  down  his  legs. 
And  with  that  blow  was  the  army  of  the  Moors  vanquished,  for 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  293 

King  Fariz,  feeling  himself  so  sorely  wounded,  turned  his  reins  and 
fled  out  of  the  field,  even  to  Teruel.  And  Martin  Antolinez  the 
good  Burgalese  came  up  to  King  Galve,  and  gave  him  a  stroke  on 
the  head,  which  scattered  all  the  carbuncles  out  of  his  helmet,  and 
cut  through  it  even  to  the  skin ;  and  the  King  did  not  wait  for  an- 
other such,  and  he  fled  also.  A  good  day  was  that  for  Christen- 
dom, for  the  Moors  fled  on  all  sides.  King  Fariz  got  into  Teruel, 
and  King  Galve  fled  after  him,  but  they  would  not  receive  him 
within  the  gates,  and  he  went  on  to  Calatayud.  And  the  Chris- 
tians pursued  them  even  to  Calatayud.  And  Alvar  Fanez  had  a 
good  horse  ;  four  and  thirty  did  he  slay  in  that  pursuit  with  the 
edge  of  his  keen  sword,  and  his  arm  was  all  red,  and  the  blood 
dropped  from  his  elbow.  And  as  he  was  returning  from  the  spoil 
he  said,  Now  am  I  well  pleased,  for  good  tidings  will  go  to  Castile, 
how  my  Cid  has  won  a  battle  in  the  field.  My  Cid  also  turned 
back ;  his  coif  was  wrinkled,  and  you  might  see  his  full  beard  ;  the 
hood  of  his  mail  hung  down  upon  his  shoulders,  and  the  sword  was 
still  in  his  hand.  He  saw  his  people  returning  from  the  pursuit, 
and  that  of  all  his  company  fifteen  only  of  the  lower  sort  were  slain, 
and  he  gave  thanks  to  God  for  this  victory.  Then  they  fell  to  the 
spoil,  and  they  found  arms  in  abundance,  and  great  store  of 
wealth  ;  and  five  hundred  and  ten  horses.  And  he  divided  the  spoil, 
giving  to  each  man  his  fair  portion,  and  the  Moors  whom  they 
had  put  out  of  Alcocer  before  the  battle,  they  now  received  again 
into  the  castle,  and  gave  to  them  also  a  part  of  the  booty,  so  that 
all  were  well  content.  And  my  Cid  had  great  joy  with  his  vassals. 
X.  Then  the  Cid  called  unto  Alvar  Fanez  and  said,  Cousin,  you 
are  my  right  hand,  and  I  hold  it  good  that  you  should  take  of  my 
fifth  as  much  as  you  will,  for  all  would  be  well  bestowed  upon  you  ; 
but  Minaya  thanked  him,  and  said,  that  he  would  take  nothing 
more  than  his  share.  And  the  Cid  said  unto  him,  I  will  send 
King  Don  Alfonso  a  present  from  my  part  of  the  spoils.  You 
shall  go  into  Castile,  and  take  with  you  thirty  horses,  the  best 
which  were  taken  from  the  Moors,  all  bridled  and  saddled,  and 
each  having  a  sword  hanging  from  the  saddle-bow ;  and  you  shall 
give  them  to  the  King,  and  kiss  his  hand  for  me,  and  tell  him  that 
we  know  how  to  make  our  way  among  the  Moors.  And  you  shall 
take  also  this  bag  of  gold  and  silver,  and  purchase  for  me  a  thou- 
sand masses  in  St.  Mary's  at  Burgos,  and  hang  up  there  these  ban- 
ners of  the  Moorish  Kings  whom  we  have  overcome.  Go  then  to 
St.  Pedro's  at  Cardena,  and  salute  my  wife  Dona  Ximena,  and  my 
daughters,  and  te]l  them  how  well  I  go  on,  and  that  if  I  live  I  will 


294  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

make  them  rich  women.  And  salute  for  me  the  Abbot  Don  Sise- 
buto,  and  give  him  fifty  marks  of  silver  ;  and  the  rest  of  the  money, 
whatever  shall  be  left,  give  to  my  wife,  and  bid  them  all  pray  for 
me.  Moreover  the  Cid  said  unto  him,  This  country  is  all  spoiled, 
and  we  have  to  help  ourselves  with  sword  and  spear.  You  are  go- 
ing to  gentle  Castile ;  if  when  you  return  you  should  not  find  us 
here,  you  will  hear  where  we  are. 

XI.  Alvar  Fanez  went  his  way  to  Castile,  and  he  found  the  King 
in  Valladolid,  and  he  presented  to  him  the  thirty  horses,  with  all 
their  trappings,  and  swords  mounted  with  silver  hanging  from  the 
saddle-bows.  And  when  the  King  saw  them,  before  Alvar  Fane/ 
could  deliver  his  bidding,  he  said  unto  him,  Minaya,  who  sends  me 
this  godflly  present  ?  and  Minaya  answered,  My  Cid  Ruydiez,  the 
Campeador,  sends  it,  and  kisses  by  me  your  hands.  For  since 
you  were  wroth  against  him,  and  banished  him  from  the  land,  he 
being  a  man  disherited,  hath  helped  himself  with  his  own  hands, 
and  hath  won  from  the  Moors  the  Castle  of  Alcocer.  And  the 
King  of  Valencia  sent  two  Kings  to  besiege  him  there,  with  all  his 
power,  and  they  begirt  him  round  about,  and  cut  off  the  water  and 
bread  from  us  so  that  we  could  not  subsist.  And  then  holding  it 
better  to  die  like  good  men  in  the  field,  than  shut  up  like  bad 
ones,  we  went  out  against  them,  and  fought  with  them  in  the  open 
field,  and  smote  them  and  put  them  to  flight ;  and  both  the  Moor- 
ish Kings  were  sorely  wounded,  and  many  of  the  Moors  were  slain, 
and  many  were  taken  prisoners,  and  great  was  the  spoil  which  we 
won  in  the  field,  both  of  captives  and  of  horses  and  arms,  gold  and 
silver  and  pearls,  so  that  all  who  are  with  him  are  rich  men.  And 
of  his  fifth  of  the  horses  which  were  taken  that  day,  my  Cid  hath 
sent  you  these,  as  to  his  natural  Lord,  whose  favour  he  desire  th. 
I  beseech  you,  as  God  shall  help  you,  show  favour  unto  him. 
Then  King  Don  Alfonso  answered,  This  is  betimes  in  the  morn- 
ing for  a  banished  man  to  ask  favour  of  his  Lord ;  nor  is  it  befitting 
a  King,  for  no  Lord  ought  to  be  wroth  for  so  short  a  time.  Nev- 
ertheless, because  the  horses  were  won  from  the  Moors,  I  will  take 
them,  and  rejoice  that  my  Cid  hath  sped  so  well.  And  I  pardon 
you,  Minaya,  and  give  again  unto  you  all  the  lands  which  you  have 
ever  held  of  me,  and  you  have  my  favour  to  go  when  you  will,  and 
come  when  you  will.  Of  the  Cid  Campeador,  I  shall  say  nothing 
now,  save  only  that  all  who  choose  to  follow  him  may  freely  go, 
and  their  bodies  and  goods  and  heritages  are  safe.  And  Minaya 
said,  God  grant  you  many  and  happy  years  for  his  service.  Now 
I  beseech  you,  this  which  you  have  done  for  me,  do  also  to  all 


ROD  RIG  O  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  295 

those  who  are  in  my  Cid's  company,  and  show  favour  unto  them 
also,  that  their  possessions  may  be  restored  unto  them.  And  the 
King  gave  order  that  it  should  be  so.  Then  Minaya  kissed  the 
King's  hand  and  said,  Sir,  you  have  done  this  now,  and  you  will  do 
the  rest  hereafter. 

XII.  My  Cid  remained  awhile  in  Alcocer,  and  the  Moors  of  the 
border  waited  to  see  what  he  would  do.     And  in  this  time  King 
Fariz  got  well  of  his  wound,  and  my  Cid  sent  to  him  and  to  the 
Moors,  saying,  that  if  they  would  give  him  three  thousand  marks 
of  silver,  he  would  leave  Alcocer  and  go  elsewhere.     And  King 
Fariz  and  the  Moors  of  Techa,  and  of  Teruel,  and  of  Calatayud, 
were  right  glad  of  this,  and  the  covenant  was  put  in  writing,  and 
they  sent  him  the  three  thousand  marks.     And  my  Cid  divided  it 
among  his  company,  and  he  made  them  all  rich,  both  knights  and 
esquires  and  footmen,  so  that  they  said  to  one  another,  He  who 
serves  a  good  Lord,  happy  man  is  his  dole.     But  the  Moors  of 
Alcocer  were  full  sorry  to  see  him  depart,  because  he  had  been  to 
them  a  kind  master  and  a  bountiful ;  and  they  said  unto  him, 
Wherever  you  go,  Cid,  our  prayers  will  go  before  you  :  and  they 
wept  both  men  and  women  when  my  Cid  went  his  way.     So  the 
Campeador  raised  his  banner  and  departed,  and  he  went  down  the 
Salon,  and  crossed  it ;  and  as  he  crossed  the  river  they  saw  good 
birds,  and  signs  of  good  fortune.    And  they  of  Za  and  of  Calatayud 
were  well  pleased,  because  he  went  from  them.     My  Cid  rode  on 
till  he  came  to  the  knoll  above  Monte-Real ;  it  is  a  high  hill  and 
strong,  and  there  he  pitched  his  tents,  being  safe  on  all  sides. 
And  from  thence  he  did  much  harm  to  the  Moors  of  Medina  and 
of  the  country  round  about ;  and  he  made  Daroca  pay  tribute,  and 
Molina  also,  which  is  on  the  other  side,  and  Teruel  also,  and  Celfa 
de  Canal,  and  all  the  country  along  the  river  Martin.     And  the 
news  went  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  it  neither  pleased  the  King 
nor  his  people. 

XIII.  Ever  after  was  that  knoll  called  the  Knoll  of  the  Cid. 
And  when  the  Perfect  one  had  waited  a  long  time  for  Minaya  and 
saw  that  he  did  not  come,  he  removed  by  night,  and  passed  by 
Teruel  and  pitched  his  camp  in  the  pine-forest  of  Tebar.     And 
from  thence  he  infested  the  Moors  of  Zaragoza,  insomuch  that  they 
held  it  best  to  give  him  gold  and  silver  and  pay  him  tribute.     And 
when  this  covenant  had  been  made,  Almudafar,  the  King  of  Zara- 
goza, became  greatly  his  friend,  and  received  him  full  honourably 
into  the  town.     In  three  weeks  time  after  this  came  Alvar  Fanez 
from  Castile.     Two  hundred  men  of  lineage  came  with  him,  every 


296  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CIDt 

one  of  whom  wore  a  sword  girt  to  his  side,  and  the  foot-soldiers 
in  their  company  were  out  of  number.  When  my  Cid  saw  Minaya 
he  rode  up  to  him,  and  embraced  him  without  speaking,  and 
kissed  his  mouth  and  the  eyes  in  his  head.  And  Minaya  told  him 
all  that  he  had  done.  And  the  face  of  the  Campeador  brightened, 
and  he  gave  thanks  to  God  and  said,  It  will  go  well  with  me, 
Minaya,  as  long  as  you  live  !  God,  how  joyful  was  that  whole  host 
because  Alvar  Fanez  was  returned  !  for  he  brought  them  greetings 
from  their  kinswomen  and  their  brethren,  and  the  fair  comrades 
whom  they  had  left  behind.  God,  how  joyful  was  my  Cid  with  the 
fleecy  beard,  that  Minaya  had  purchased  the  thousand  masses,  and 
had  brought  him  the  biddings  of  his  wife  and  daughters  !  God, 
what  a  joyful  man  was  he  ! 

XIV.  Now  it  came  to  pass  that  while  my  Cid  was  in  Zaragoza 
the  days  of  King  Almudafar  were  fulfilled ;  and  he  left  his  two 
sons  Zulema  and  Abenalfange,  and   they  divided  his  dominions 
between  them ;  and  Zulema  had  the  kingdom  of  Zaragoza,  and 
Abenalfange  the  kingdom  of  Denia.    And  Zulema  put  his  kingdom 
under  my  Cid's  protection,  and  bade  all  his  people  obey  him  even 
as  they  would  himself.     Now  there  began  to  be  great  enmity  be- 
tween the  two  brethren,  aud  they  made  war  upon   each  other. 
And  King  Don  Pedro  of  Arragon,  and  the  Count  Don  Ramon 
Berenguer  of  Barcelona,  helped  Abenalfange,  and  they  were  ene- 
mies to  the  Cid  because  he  defended  Zulema.    And  my  Cid  chose 
out  two  hundred  horsemen  and  went  out  by  night,  and  fell  upon 
the  lands  of  Alcaniz ;  and  he  remained  out  three  days  in  this  in- 
road, and  brought  away  great  booty.     Great  was  the  talk  thereof 
among  the  Moors  ;  and  they  of  Monzon  and  of  Huesca  were  trou- 
bled, but  they  of  Zaragoza  rejoiced,  because  they  paid  tribute  to 
the  Cid,  and  were  safe.     And  when  my  Cid  returned  to  Zaragoza 
he  divided  the  spoil  among  his  companions,  and  said  to  them,  Ye 
know,  my  friends,  that  for  all  who  live  by  their  arms,  as  we  do,  it 
is  not  good  to  remain  long  in  one  place.     Let  us  be  off  again 
to-morrow.     So  on  the  morrow  they  moved  to   the    Puerto  de 
Alucant,  and  from  thence  they  infested  Huesca  and  Montalban. 
Ten  days  were  they  out  upon  this  inroad  ;  and  the  news  was  sent 
everywhere  how  the  exile  from  Castile  was  handling  them,  and 
tidings  went  to  the  King  of  Denia  and  to  the  Count  of  Barcelona, 
how  my  Cid  was  overrunning  the  country. 

XV.  When   Don   Ramon   Berenguer   the  Count  of  Barcelona 
heard  this,  it  troubled  him  to  the  heart,  and  he  held  it  for  a  great 
dishonour,  because  that  part  of  the  land  of  the  Moors  was  in  his 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  297 

keeping.  And  he  spake  boastfully  saying,  Gres*.  wrong  doth  that 
Cid  of  Bivar  offer  unto  me  ;  he  smote  my  nephew  in  my  own  court 
and  never  would  make  amends  for  it,  and  now  he  ravages  the  lands 
which  are  in  my  keeping,  and  I  have  never  defied  him  for  this  nor 
renounced  his  friendship ;  but  since  he  goes  on  'n  this  way  I  must 
take  vengeance.  So  he  and  King  Abenalfange  gathered  together 
a  great  power  both  of  Moors  and  Christians,  and  went  in  pursuit 
of  the  Cid,  and  after  three  days  and  two  nights  tney  came  up  with 
him  in  the  pine-forest  of  Tebar,  and  they  carne  on  confidently, 
thinking  to  lay  hands  on  him.  Now  my  Cid  was  returning  with 
much  spoil,  and  had  descended  from  the  Sierra  into  the  valley 
when  tidings  were  brought  him  that  Count  Don  Kamon  Berenguer 
and  the  King  of  Denia  were  at  hand,  with  a  great  power,  to  take 
away  his  booty,  and  take  or  slay  him.  And  whtn  the  Cid  heard 
this  he  sent  to  Don  Ramon  saying,  that  the  booty  which  he  had 
won  was  none  of  his,  and  bidding  him  let  him  go  on  his  way  in 
peace  :  but  the  Count  made  answer,  that  my  Cid  should  now  learn 
whom  he  had  dishonoured,  and  make  amends  Ox.ce  for  all.  Then 
my  Cid  sent  the  booty  forward,  and  bade  his  knights  make  ready. 
They  are  coming  upon  us,  said  he,  with  a  grc  It  power  both  of 
Moors  and  Christians,  to  take  from  us  the  spoils  which  we  have  so 
hardly  won,  and  without  doing  battle  we  cannot  ^>e  quit  of  them ; 
for  if  we  should  proceed  they  would  follow  till  they  overtook  us  : 
therefore  let  the  battle  be  here,  and  I  trust  in  ')od  that  we  shall 
win  more  honour,  and  something  to  boot.  They  come  down  the 
hill,  dressed  in  their  hose,  with  their  gay  saddle  ,  and  their  girths 
wet ;  we  are  with  our  hose  covered  and  on  our  Galician  saddles  ;  — 
a  hundred  such  as  we  ought  to  beat  their  whole  ompany.  Before 
they  get  upon  the  plain  ground  let  us  give  them  the  points  of  our 
lances  ;  for  one  whom  we  run  through,  three  wilj  kimp  out  of  their 
saddles  ;  and  Ramon  Berenguer  will  then  see  whom  he  has  over- 
taken to-day  in  the  pine-forest  of  Tebar,  thinking  to  despoil  him  of 
the  booty  which  I  have  won  from  the  enemies  of  God  and  of  the  faith. 
XVI.  While  my  Cid  was  speaking,  his  knights  had  taken  their 
arms,  and  were  ready  on  horseback  for  the  charge.  Presently 
they  saw  the  pendants  of  the  Frenchmen  coming  down  the  hill,  and 
when  they  were  nigh  the  bottom,  and  had  not  yet  set  foot  upon 
the  plain  ground,  my  Cid  bade  his  people  charge,  which  they  did 
with  a  right  good  will,  thrusting  their  spears  so  stiffly,  that  by  God's 
good  pleasure  not  a  man  whom  they  encountered  but  lost  his  seat. 
So  many  were  slain  and  so  many  wounded,  that  the  Moors  were 
dismayed  forthwith,  and  began  to  fly.  The  Count's  people  stood 


29S  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

firm  a  little  longer,  gathering  round  their  Lord  ;  but  my  Cid  was  in 
search  of  him,  and  when  he  saw  where  he  was,  he  made  up  to  him, 
clearing  the  way  as  he  went,  and  gave  him  such  a  stroke  with  his 
lance  that  he  felled  him  down  to  the  ground.  When  the  Frenchmen 
saw  their  Lord  in  this  plight  they  fled  away  and  left  him  ;  and  the 
pursuit  lasted  three  leagues,  and  would  have  been  continued  farther 
if  the  conquerors  had  not  had  tired  horses.  So  they  turned  back 
and  collected  the  spoils,  which  were  more  than  they  could  carry 
away.  Thus  was  Count  Ramon  Berenguer  made  prisoner,  and  my 
Cid  won  from  him  that  day  the  good  sword  Colada,  which  was 
worth  more  than  a  thousand  marks  of  silver.  That  night  did  my 
Cid  and  his  men  make  merry,  rejoicing  over  their  gains.  And  the 
Count  was  taken  to  my  Cid's  tent,  and  a  good  supper  was  set  be- 
fore him ;  nevertheless  he  would  not  eat,  though  my  Cid  besought 
him  so  to  do.  And  on  the  morrow  my  Cid  ordered  a  feast  to  be 
made,  that  he  might  do  pleasure  to  the  Count,  but  the  Count  said 
that  for  all  Spain  he  would  not  eat  one  mouthful,  but  would  rather 
die,  since  he  had  been  beaten  in  battle  by  such  a  set  of  ragged  fel- 
lows. And  Ruydiez  said  to  him,  Eat  and  drink,  Count,  of  this 
bread  and  of  this  wine,  for  this  is  the  chance  of  war  ;  if  you  do  as 
I  say  you  shall  be  free  ;  and  if  not  you  will  never  return  again  into 
your  own  lands.  And  Don  Ramon  answered,  Eat  you,  Don  Rod- 
rigo,  for  your  fortune  is  fair  and  you  deserve  it ;  take  you  your 
pleasure,  but  leave  me  to  die.  And  in  this  mood  he  continued  for 
three  days,  refusing  all  food.  But  then  my  Cid  said  to  him,  Take 
food,  Count,  and  be  sure  that  I  will  set  you  free,  you  and  any  two 
of  your  knights,  and  give  you  wherewith  to  return  into  your  own 
country.  And  when  Don  Ramon  heard  this,  he  took  comfort  and 
said,  If  you  will  indeed  do  this  thing  I  shall  marvel  at  you  as  long 
as  I  live.  Eat  then,  said  Ruydiez,  and  I  will  do  it :  but  mark  you, 
of  the  spoil  which  we  have  taken  from  you  I  will  give  you  nothing  ; 
for  to  that  you  have  no  claim,  neither  by  right  nor  custom,  and 
besides  we  want  it  for  ourselves,  being  banished  men,  who  must 
live  by  taking  from  you  and  from  others  as  long  as  it  shall  please 
God.  Then  was  the  Count  full  joyful,  being  well  pleased  that 
what  should  be  given  him  was  not  of  the  spoils  which  he  had  lost ; 
and  he  called  for  water  and  washed  his  hands,  and  chose  two  of 
his  kinsmen  to  be  set  free  with  him  ;  the  one  was  named  Don 
Hugo,  and  the  other  Guillen  Bernalto.  And  my  Cid  sat  at  the 
table  with  them,  and  said,  If  you  do  not  eat  well,  Count,  you  and 
I  shall  not  part  yet.  Never  since  he  was  Count  did  he  eat  with 
better  will  than  that  day  !  And  when  they  had  done  he  said,  Now, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  299 

Cid,  if  it  be  your  pleasure  let  us  depart.  And  my  Cid  clothed  him 
and  his  kinsman  well  with  goodly  skins  and  mantles,  and  gave 
them  each  a  goodly  palfrey,  with  rich  caparisons,  and  he  rode  out 
with  them  on  their  way.  And  when  he  took  leave  of  the  Count  he 
said  to  him,  Now  go  freely,  and  I  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
left  behind ;  if  you  wish  to  play  for  it  again  let  me  know,  and  you 
shall  either  have  something  back  in  its  stead,  or  leave  what  you 
bring  to  be  added  to  it.  The  Count  answered,  Cid,  you  jest  safely 
now,  for  I  have  paid  you  and  all  your  company  for  this  twelve- 
months, and  shall  not  be  coming  to  see  you  again  so  soon.  Then 
Count  Ramon  pricked  on  more  than  apace,  and  many  times 
looked  behind  him,  fearing  that  my  Cid  would  repent  what  he  had 
done,  and  send  to  take  him  back  to  prison,  which  the  Perfect  one 
would  not  have  done  for  the  whole  world,  for  never  did  he  do  dis- 
loyal thing. 

XVII.  Then  he  of  Bivar  returned  to  Zaragoza,  and  divided  the 
spoil,  which  was  so  great  that  none  of  his  men  knew  how  much 
they  had.     And  the  Moors  of  the  town  rejoiced  in  his  good  speed, 
liking  him  well,  because  he  protected  them  so  well  that  they  were 
safe  from  all  harm.     And  my  Cid  went  out  again  from  Zaragoza, 
and  rode  over  the  lands  of  Monzon  and  Huerta  and  Onda  and 
Buenar.     And  King  Pedro  of  Arragon  came  out  against  him,  but 
my  Cid  took  the  Castle  of  Monzon  in  his  sight ;  and  then  he  went 
to  Tamarit :  and  one  day  as  he  rode  out  hunting  from  thence  with 
twelve  of  his  knights,  he  fell  in  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
King  of   Arragon's  people,  and  he   fought  with  them  and   put 
them  to  flight,  and  took  seven  knights  prisoners,  whom  he  let  go 
freely.     Then  he  turned  towards  the  sea-coast,  and  won  Xerica 
and  Onda  and  Almenar,  and  all  the  lands  of  Borriana  and  Mur- 
viedro ;  and  they  in  Valencia  were  greatly  dismayed  because  of 
the  great  feats  which  he  did  in  the  land.     And  when  he  had 
plundered  all  that  country  he  returned  to  Tamarit,  where  Zulema 
then  was. 

XVIII.  Now  Zulema  had  sent  for  my  Cid,  and  the  cause  was 
this.     His  brother  the   King  of  Denia  had  taken  counsel  with 
Count  Ramon  Berenguer,  and  with  the  Count  of  Cardona,  and 
with  the  brother  of  the  Count  of  Urgel,  and  with  the  chiefs  of 
Balsadron  and  Remolin  and  Cartaxes,  that  they  should  besiege 
the  Castle  of  Almenar,  which  my  Cid  had  refortified  by  command 
of  King  Zulema.     And  they  come  up  against  it  while  my  t 
taeay,  besieging  the  Castle  of  Estrada,  which  is  in  the  rivers  'Iiegic 
and'  Sege,  the  which  he  took  by  force.     And  they  fought  against 


300  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

it  and  cut  off  the  water.  And  when  my  Cid  came  to  the  King  at 
Tamarit,  the  King  asked  him  to  go  and  fight  with  the  host  which 
besieged  Almenar;  but  my  Cid  said  it  would  be  better  to  give 
something  to  King  Abenalfange  that  he  should  break  up  the  siege 
and  depart ;  for  they  were  too  great  a  power  to  do  battle  with, 
being  as  many  in  number  as  the  sands  on  the  sea-shore.  And  the 
King  did  as  he  counselled  him,  and  sent  to  his  brother  King 
Abenalfange,  and  to  the  chiefs  who  were  with  him,  to  propose 
this  accord,  and  they  would  not.  Then  my  Cid,  seeing  that  they 
would  not  depart  for  fair  means,  armed  his  people,  and  fell  upon 
them.  That  was  a  hard  battle  and  well  fought  on  both  sides,  and 
much  blood  was  shed,  for  many  good  knights  on  either  party  were 
in  the  field ;  howbeit  he  of  good  fortune  won  the  day  at  last, 
he  who  never  was  conquered.  King  Abenalfange  and  Count 
Ramon  and  most  of  the  others  fled,  and  my  Cid  followed,  smiting 
and  slaying  for  three  leagues ;  and  many  good  Christian  knights 
were  made  prisoners.  Ruydiez  returned  with  great  honour  and 
much  spoil,  and  gave  all  his  prisoners  to  King  Zulema,  who  kept 
them  eight  days,  and  then  my  Cid  begged  their  liberty  and  set 
them  free.  And  he  and  the  King  returned  to  Zaragoza,  and  the 
people  came  out  to  meet  them,  with  great  joy,  and  shouts  of  wel- 
come. And  the  King  honoured  my  Cid  greatly,  and  gave  him 
power  in  all  his  dominions. 

XIX.  At  this  time  it  came  to  pass  that  Almofalez,  a  Moor  of 
Andalusia,  rose  up  with  the  Castle  of  Rueda,  which  was  held  for 
King  Don  Alfonso.  And  because  he  held  prisoner  there  the 
brother  of  Adefir,  another  Moor,  Adefir  sent  to  the  King  of  Cas- 
tile, beseeching  him  to  come  to  succour  him,  and  recover  the 
Castle.  And  the  King  sent  the  Infante  Don  Ramiro  his  cousin, 
and  the  Infante  Don  Sancho,  son  to  the  King  of  Navarre,  and 
Count  Don  Gonzalo  Salvadores,  and  Count  Don  Nuno  Alvarez, 
and  many  other  knights  with  them ;  and  they  came  to  the  Castle, 
and  Almofalez  said  he  would  not  open  the  gates  to  them,  but  if 
the  King  came  he  would  open  to  him.  And  when  King  Don 
Alfonso  heard  this,  incontinently  he  came  to  Rueda.  And  Almo- 
falez besought  him  to  enter  to  a  feast  which  he  had  prepared  ; 
howbeit  the  King  would  not  go  in,  neither  would  his  people  have 
permitted  him  so  to  have  risked  his  person.  But  the  Infante  Don 
Sancho  entered,  and  Don  Nuno,  and  Don  Gonzalo,  and  fifteen 
other  knights  ;  and  as  soon  as  they  were  within  the  gate,  the 
Moors  threw  down  great  stones  upon  them  and  killed  them  all. 
This  was  the  end  of  the  good  Count  Don  Gonzalo  Salvadores,  who 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  301 

was  so  good  a  knight  in  battle  that  he  was  called  He  of  the  Four 
Hands.  The  bodies  were  ransomed,  seeing  that  there  was  no 
remedy,  the  Castle  being  so  strong,  and  Don  Gonzalo  was  buried 
in  the  Monastery  of  Ona,  according  as  he  had  appointed  in  his 
will ;  and  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  with  his  forefathers  the  Kings 
of  Navarre,  in  the  royal  Monastery  of  Naxara. 

XX.  Greatly  was  King  Don  Alfonso  troubled  at  this  villany,  and 
he  sent  for  the  Cid,  who  was  in  those  parts  ;  and  the  Cid  came  to 
him  with  a  great  company.    And  the  King  told  him  the  great  trea- 
son which  had  been  committed,  and  took  the  Cid  into  his  favour, 
and  said  unto  him  that  he  might  return  with  him  into  Castile.    My 
Cid  thanked  him  for  his  bounty,  but  he  said  he  never  would  accept 
his  favour  unless  the  King  granted  what  he  should  request ;  and 
the  King  bade  him  make  his  demand.     And  my  Cid  demanded, 
that  when  any  hidalgo  should  be  banished,  in  time  to  come,  he 
should  have  the  thirty  days,  which  were  his  right,  allowed  him,  and 
not  nine  only,  as  had  been  his  case  ;  and  that  neither  hidalgo  nor 
citizen  should  be  proceeded  against  till  they  had  been  fairly  and 
lawfully  heard  ;  also,  that  the  King  should  not  go  against  the  priv- 
ileges and  charters  and  good  customs  of  any  town  or  other  place, 
nor  impose  taxes  upon  them  against  their  right ;  and  if  he  did, 
that  it  should  be  lawful  for  the  land  to  rise  against  him,  till  he  had 
amended  the  misdeed.     And  to  all  this  the  King  accorded,  and 
said  to  my  Cid  that  he  should  go  back  into  Castile  with  him ;  but 
my  Cid  said  he  would  not  go  into  Castile  till  he  had  won  that  cas- 
tle of  Rueda,  and  delivered  the  villanous  Moors  thereof  into  his 
hands,  that  he  might  do  justice  upon  them.     So  the  King  thanked 
him  greatly,  and  returned  into  Castile,  and  my  Cid  remained  be- 
fore the  castle  of  Rueda.     And  he  lay  before  it  so  long,  and  beset 
it  so  close,  that  the  food  of  the  Moors  failed,  and  they  had  no 
strength  to  defend   themselves;    and  they  would  willingly  have 
yielded  the  castle,  so  they  might  have  been  permitted  to  leave  it 
and  go  whither  they  would ;  but  he  would  have  their  bodies,  to 
deliver  them  up  to  the  King.     When  they  saw  that  it  must  be  so, 
great  part  of  them  came  out,  and  yielded  themselves  prisoners ;  and 
then  my  Cid  stormed  the  castle,  and  took  Almofalez  and  they  who 
held  with  him,  so  that  none  escaped;  and  he  sent  him  and  his 
accomplices  in  the  treason  to  the  King.     And  the  King  was  right 
glad  when  they  were  brought  before  him,  and  he  did  great  justice 
upon  them,  and  sent  to  thank  my  Cid  for  having  avenged  him. 

XXI.  After  my  Cid  had  done  this  good  service  to  King  Don 
Alfonso,  he  and  King  Zulema  of  Zaragoza  entered  Arragon,  slaying, 


302  CHRONICLE   OF   THE   C/D, 

and  burning,  and  plundering  before  them,  and  they  returned  to  the 
Castle  of  Monzon  with  great  booty.  Then  the  Cid  went  into  King 
Abenalfange's  country,  and  did  much  mischief  there ;  and  he  got 
among  the  mountains  of  Moriella,  and  beat  down  everything  before 
him,  and  destroyed  the  Castle  of  Moriella.  And  King  Zulema  sent 
to  bid  him  build  up  the  ruined  Castle  of  Alcala,  which  is  upon 
Moriella ;  and  the  Cid  did  so.  But  King  Abenalfange  being  sorely 
grieved  hereat,  sent  to  King  Pedro  of  Arragon,  and  besought  him 
to  come  and  help  him  against  the  Campeador.  And  the  King  of 
Arragon  gathered  together  a  great  host  in  his  anger,  and  he  and 
the  King  of  Denia,  came  against  my  Cid,  and  they  halted  that 
night  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ebro ;  and  King  Don  Pedro  sent  let- 
ters to  the  Cid,  bidding  him  leave  the  castle  which  he  was  then 
edifying.  My  Cid  made  answer,  that  if  the  King  chose  to  pass 
that  way  in  peace,  he  would  let  him  pass,  and  show  him  any  service 
in  his  power.  And  when  the  King  of  Arragon  saw  that  he  would 
not  forsake  the  work,  he  marched  against  him,  and  attacked  him. 
Then  was  there  a  brave  battle,  and  many  were  slain  ;  but  my  ('id 
won  the  day,  and  King  Abenalfange  fled,  and  King  I  )on  Pedro  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  many  of  his  Counts  and  knights  with  him.  My 
Cid  returned  to  Zaragoza  with  this  great  honour,  taking  his  prisoners 
with  him  ;  and  he  set  them  all  freely  at  liberty,  and  having  tarried 
in  Zaragoza  a  few  days,  set  forth  for  Castile,  with  great  riches  and 
full  of  honours. 

XXII.  Having  done  all  these  things  in  his  banishment,  my  Cid 
returned  to  Castile,  and  the  King  received  him  well,  and  gave  him 
the  Castle  of  Duenas,  and  of  Orcejon,  and  Ybia,  and  Campo,  and 
Gana,  and  Berviesca,  and  Berlanga,  with  all  their  districts.  And 
he  gave  him  privileges  with  leaden  seals  appendant,  and  confirmed 
with  his  own  hand,  that  whatever  castles,  towns,  and  places,  he 
might  win  from  the  Moors,  or  from  any  one  else,  should  be  his 
own,  quit  and  free  for  ever,  both  for  him  and  for  his  descendants. 
Thus  was  my  Cid  received  into  the  King's  favour,  and  he  abode 
with  him  long  time,  doing  him  great  services,  as  his  Lord. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  303 


BOOK    V. 

I.  IN  these  days  King  Yahia  reigned  in  Toledo,  the  grandson  of 
King  Alimaymon,  who  had  been  the  friend  of  King  Don  Alfonso  ; 
for  Alimaymon  was  dead,  and  his  son  Hicem  also.     Now  Yahia 
was  a  bad  King,  and  one  who  walked  not  in  the  ways  of  his  fathers. 
Insolent  he  was  towards  the  elders,  and  cruel  towards  his  people  : 
and  his  yoke  was  so  heavy  that  all  men  desired  to  see  his  death, 
because  there  was  no  good  in  him.     And  the  people  seeing  that 
he  did  not  protect  them,  and  that  their  lands  were  ravaged  safely, 
went  to  him  and  said,  Stand  up,  Sir,  for  thy  people  and  thy  coun- 
try, else  we  must  look  for  some  other  Lord  who  will  defend  us. 
But  he  was  of  such  lewd  customs  that  he  gave  no  heed  to  their 
words.     And  when  they  knew  that  there  was  no  hope  of  him,  the 
Moors  sent  to  the  King  of  Badajoz,  inviting  him  to  come  and  be 
their  protector,  saying  that  they  would  deliver  the  city  into  his 
hands  in  spite  of  Yahia.     And  the  Muzarabes  who  dwelt  in  the 
city  sent  to  King  Don  Alfonso,  exhorting  him  to  win  Toledo,  which 
he  might  well  do,  now  that  he  was  no  longer  bound  by  his  oath. 
Then  both  Kings  came,  thinking  to  have  the  city :  and  the  King 
of  Badajoz  came  first,  and  the  gates  were  opened  to  him  in  de- 
spite of  Yahia.     Howbeit  King  Don  Alfonso  speedily  arrived,  and 
the  King  of  Badajoz,  seeing  that  he  could  not  maintain  Toledo 
against  him,  retreated,  and  King  Don  Alfonso  pursued  him  into 
his  own  dominions,  and  gave  orders  that  he  should  be  attacked 
along  the  whole  of  his  border,  and  did  not  leave  him  till  he  had 
plainly  submitted.     In  this  manner  was  Yahia  delivered  from  the 
King  of  Badajoz ;  but  King  Don  Alfonso  knowing  how  that  city 
was  to  be  taken,  contented  himself  with  overrunning  the  country, 
and  despoiling  it,  even  to  the  walls  of  the  city ;  and  thus  he  did 
for  four  years,  so  that  he  was  master  of  the  land. 

II.  In  all  this  time  did  my  Cid  do  good  service  to  King  Don 
Alfonso.     And  in  these  days  King  Don  Alfonso  fought  at  Con- 
suegra  with  King  Abenalfange  of  Denia,  and  in  this  battle  the 
Christians  were  defeated  and  Diego  Rodriguez,  the  son  of  my  Cid, 
was  slain.     Greatly  was  his  death  lamented  by  the  Christians,  for 


304  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

he  was  a  youth  of  great  hope,  and  one  who  was  beginning  to  tread 
in  the  steps  of  his  father.  And  King  Don  Alfonso  was  fain  to  re- 
tire into  the  Castle  of  that  town.  And  Abenalfange  gathered  to- 
gether the  greatest  power  of  the  Moors  that  he  could,  and  entered 
the  land  of  the  Christians,  and  passed  the  mountains,  and  came 
even  to  Medina  del  Campo,  and  there  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya  met 
him.  Minaya  had  but  five  and  twenty  hundred  horse  with  him, 
and  of  the  Moors  there  were  fifteen  thousand ;  nevertheless  by 
God's  blessing  he  prevailed  against  them.  And  by  the  virtue  of 
God  Alvar  Fanez  gave  King  Abenalfange  a  cruel  wound  in  the  face  so 
that  he  fled  away.  Great  honour  did  Minaya  win  for  this  victory. 

III.  Now  had  King  Don  Alfonso  for  many  years  cut  down  the 
bread  and  the  wine  and  the  fruits  in  all  the  country  round  about 
Toledo,  and  he  made  ready  to  go  against  the  city.     The  tidings  of 
this  great  enterprise  spread  far  and  wide,  and  adventurers  came 
from  all  parts  to  be  present :  not  only  they  of  Castile  and  Leon, 
Asturias  and  Nagera,  Galicia  and  Portugal,  but  King  Sancho  Rami- 
rez of  Arragon  came  also,  with  the  flower  of  Arragon  and  Navarre 
and  Catalonia,  and  Franks  and  Germans  and  Italians,  and  men  of 
other  countries,  to  bear  their  part  in  so  great  and  catholic  a  war. 
And  the  King  entertained  them  well,  being  full  bountiful,  insomuch 
that  he  was  called  He  of  the  Open  Hand.     Never  had  so  goodly 
a  force  of  Christians  been  assembled  in  Spain,  nor  so  great  an 
enterprise  attempted,  since  the  coming  of  the  Moors.     And  of  this 
army  was  my  Cid  the  leader.     So  soon  as  the  winter  was  over  they 
began  their  march.     And  when  they  came  to  a  ford  of  the  Tagus, 
behold  the  river  was  swollen,  and  the  best  horsemen  feared  to  try 
the  passage.     Now  there  was  a  holy  man  in  the  camp,  by  name 
Lesmes,  who  was  a  monk  of  St.  Benedict's ;  and  he  being  mounted 
upon  an  ass  rode  first  into  the  ford,  and  passed  safely  through  the 
flood  ;  and  all  who  beheld  him  held  it  for  a  great  miracle. 

IV.  Greatly  to  be  blamed  are  they  who  lived  in  those  days  for 
not  handing  down  to  everlasting  remembrance  the  worthy  feats  which 
were  achieved  at  this  siege.     For  not  only  was  Toledo  a  strong  city. 
both  by  nature  and  in  its  walls  and  towers,  but  the  flower  of  the 
chivalry  of  all  Spain  and  of  all  Christendom  was  there  assembled, 
and  the  Moors  of  Spain  also,  knowing  that  this  was,  as  it  were,  the 
heart  of  their  empire,  did  all  they  could  to  defend  it :  greatly  to  be 
blamed  are  they  who  neglected  to  transmit  to  us  the  memory  of 
their  deeds,  and   greatly  have  they  wronged  the  worthy  knights 
whose  exploits  should  else  have  gained  for  them  a  never-dying 
renown.     Nothing  more,  owing  to  their  default,  can  we  say  of  this 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   RIVAR.  305 

so  notable  a  siege,  than  that  when  Don  Cambrian,  the  Bishop  of 
Leon,  was  earnestly  engaged  in  prayer  for  the  success  of  the  Chris- 
tian arms,  the  glorious  St.  Isidro  appeared  unto  him,  and  certified 
that  in  fifteen  days  the  city  should  be  surrendered  ;  and  even  so  it 
came  to  pass,  for  the  gates  were  opened  to  the  King  on  Thursday 
the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  in  the  year  of  the  era  1 1 23,  which  is  the 
year  of  Christ  1085.  The  first  Christian  banner  which  entered  the 
city  was  the  banner  of  my  Cid,  and  my  Cid  was  the  first  Christian 
Alcayde  of  Toledo.  Of  the  terms  granted  unto  the  Moors,  and 
how  they  were  set  aside  for  the  honour  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and 
of  the  cunning  of  the  Jews  who  dwelt  in  the  city,  and  how  the  Rom- 
ish ritual  was  introduced  therein,  this  is  not  the  place  to  speak ; 
all  these  things  are  written  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Spain. 
V.  Now  Yahia,  when  he  saw  that  he  could  by  no  means  hold 
Toledo,  because  on  the  one  hand  the  Moors  would  give  it  to 
the  King  of  Badajoz,  and  on  the  other  King  Don  Alfonso  warred 
against  it,  he  made  a  covenant  with  King  Don  Alfonso  to  yield 
the  city  to  him,  if  he  with  the  help  of  Alvar  Fanez  would  put 
him  in  possession  of  Valencia,  which  had  belonged  unto  Hicem 
and  Alimaymon,  his  fathers,  but  which  the  Guazil  Abdalla  Azis 
held  now  as  his  own,  calling  himself  King  thereof.  And  he 
covenanted  that  King  Don  Alfonso  should  also  put  into  his  hand 
Santa  Maria  de  Albarrazin,  and  the  Kingdom  of  Denia ;  and 
the  King  assented  to  the  covenant,  thinking  that  in  this  manner 
the  land  would  all  be  his  own.  Yahia  therefore  sent  Abenfarat, 
who  was  his  cousin,  to  Valencia,  to  spy  out  what  the  Guazil  would 
do,  whether  he  would  peaceably  deliver  up  the  kingdom  unto  him, 
or  whether  he  would  oppose  his  coming,  which  he  greatly  doubted, 
because  it  was  rumoured  that  he  was  about  to  give  his  daughter  in 
marriage  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza.  Abenfarat  went  his  way,  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  house  of  a  Moor  who  was  called  Abenlupo  ; 
and  while  he  sojourned  there  the  marriage  of  the  Guazil's  daughter 
was  effected,  and  the  Guazil  himself  fell  sick  and  died.  Then 
Abenfarat  tarried  yet  awhile  to  see  what  would  be  the  issue,  for  the 
men  of  Valencia  were  greatly  troubled  because  of  the  death  of  their 
King.  He  left  two  sons,  between  whom  there  was  no  brotherly 
love  during  his  life,  and  now  that  he  was  dead  there  was  less.  And 
they  divided  between  them  all  that  he  left,  even  the  least  thing  did 
they  divide,  each  being  covetous  to  possess  all  that  he  could  ;  and 
they  made  two  factions  in  the  town,  each  striving  to  possess  himself 
of  the  power  therein.  But  the  men  of  Valencia  who  were  not  en- 
gaged on  their  side,  and  they  also  who  held  the  castles  round  about. 


306  CHROX1CI.E    OF   THE    C//), 

were  greatly  troubled  because  of  this  strife  which  was  between  th*'in  ; 
and  they  also  were  divided  between  two  opinions,  they  who  were  ot 
the  one  wishing  to  give  the  kingdom  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  they 
who  were  of  the  other  to  yield  themselves  unto  Yahia  the  grandson  of 
Alimaymon,  because  of  the  covenant  which  King  Don  Alfonso  had 
made  with  him.  When  Abenfarat  knew  these  things  he  returned 
unto  Yahia,  and  told  him  all  even  as  it  was  :  and  Yahia  saw  that  he 
should  have  the  city,  because  of  the  discord  which  was  therein. 

VI.  Then  Yahia  gathered  together  all  his  people,  knights,  and 
cross-bow  men,  and  foot-soldiers,  and  they  of  his  board,  and  the 
officers  of  his  household  which  are  the  eunuchs ;  and  he  set  for- 
ward on  the  way  toward  Valencia,  and  Alvar  Fanez  and  his  body 
of  Christians  with  him.  And  he  sent  to  the  townsmen  greeting 
them,  and  saying  that  he  was  coming  to  dwell  among  them  and  to 
be  their  King,  and  that  he  would  deal  bountifully  by  them  ;  and 
that  he  should  wait  awhile  in  the  town  which  was  called  Sera.  The 
chief  men  of  the  town  took  counsel  together  what  they  should  do, 
and  at  length  they  agreed  to  receive  him  for  their  Lord  ;  and  this 
they  did  more  in  fear  of  King  Don  Alfonso  and  of  Alvar  Fane/ 
than  for  any  love  towards  him.  This  answer  they  sent  him  by 
Aboeza  the  Alcayde.  Now  Aboeza  would  fain  have  departed 
from  Valencia  when  the  Guazil  Abdalla  Azis  died,  because  of  the 
strife  which  was  in  the  city,  and  he  thought  to  betake  himself  to 
his  own  Castle  of  Monviedro  and  dwell  there,  away  from  the 
troubles  which  were  to  come.  Upon  this  purpose  he  took  coun- 
sel with  his  friend  Mahomed  Abenhayen  the  Scribe,  for  there  was 
great  love  between  them  ;  and  when  the  Scribe  heard  what  he  pur- 
posed to  do  he  was  grieved  thereat,  and  represented  unto  him  that 
it  was  not  fitting  for  him  to  forsake  the  city  at  such  a  time,  so  that 
Aboeza  was  persuaded.  And  they  twain  covenanted  one  to  the 
other,  to  love  and  defend  each  other  against  all  the  men  in  the 
world,  and  to  help  each  other  with  their  persons  and  possessions ; 
and  Aboeza  sent  trusty  men  of  his  kinsfolk  and  friends  to  keep  the 
Castles  of  Monviedro  and  Castro  and  Santa  Cruz,  and  other  Castles 
which  were  in  his  possession,  and  he  himself  abode  in  Valencia. 
And  now  he  went  out  to  Yahia  to  give  unto  him  the  keys  of  the 
city,  and  the  good  men  of  the  city  went  out  with  him,  and  they 
made  obeisance  to  him  and  promised  to  serve  him  loyally.  Then 
Yahia,  the  grandson  of  Alimaymon,  set  forth  with  all  his  company 
from  Sera,  and  all  the  people  of  Valencia,  high  and  low,  went  out 
to  meet  him  with  great  rejoicings.  And  Aboeza  adorned  the  Al- 
cazar right  nobly,  that  Yahia  and  his  women  and  they  of  his  com- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BfVAR.       .  307 

pany  might  lodge  within.  The  most  honourable  of  his  knights 
took  up  their  lodging  in  the  town,  and  the  cross-bow  men  and 
others  of  low  degree  lodged  round  about  the  Alcazar,  and  in  cer- 
tain dwellings  which  were  between  it  and  the  Mosque,  and  Alvar 
Fanez  and  the  Christians  who  were  with  him,  in  the  village  which 
was  called  Ruzaf. 

VII.  Yahia  being  now  King   in  Valencia,  made    Aboeza   his 
Guazil,  and  gave  him  authority  throughout  all  his  kingdom.     Nev- 
ertheless he  bore  displeasure  against  him  in  his  heart,  because  he 
had  served  Abdalla  Azis ;  and  on  his  part  also  Aboeza  secretly 
feared  the  King,  and  knew  not  whether  it  were  better  to  depart 
from  him,  or  not ;  howbeit  he  thought  it  best  to  remain  and  serve 
him  right  loyally  and  well,  that  so  he  might  win  his  good  will ;  and 
when  the  King  perceived  this,  his  anger  abated  and  was  clean  put 
out  of  mind.     And  he  made  Aboeza  his  favourite,  and  made  a  vow 
unto  him  and  confirmed  it  by  a  writing,  that  he  would  never  take 
away  his  favour  from  him,  nor  change  him  for  another,  nor  do  any- 
thing in  his  dominions  without  him.     With  this  was  -Aboeza  satis- 
fied, and  the  fear  which  he  felt  in  his  heart  was  removed.     And 
they  who  held  the  castles  brought  great  gifts  to  Yahia,  with  much 
humility  and  reverence,  such  as  the  Moors  know  how  to  put  on. 
This  they  did  to  set  his  heart  at  rest,  that  he  might  confide  in 
them,  and  send  away  Alvar  Fanez  into  his  own  country,  and  not 
keep  him  and  his  people  at  so  great  a  charge,  for  it  cost  them 
daily  six  hundred  maravedis,  and  the  King  had  no  treasure  in  Va- 
lencia, neither  was  he  so  rich  that  he  could  support  his  own  com- 
pany and  supply  this  payment ;  and  for  this  reason  the  Moors  com- 
plained of  the  great  cost.     But  on  the  other  hand,  Yahia  feared 
that  if  he  should  send  away  Alvar  Fanez,  the  Moors  would  rise 
against  him ;  and  to  maintain  him  he  laid  a  great  tax  upon  the  city 
and  its  district,  saying  that  it  was  for  barley.     This  tax  they  levied 
upon  the  rich  as  well  as  the  poor,  and  upon  the  great  as  well  as  the 
little,  which  they  held  to  be  a  great  evil  and  breach  of  their  privi- 
leges, and  thought  that  by  his  fault  Valencia  would  be  lost,  even 
as  Toledo  had  been.     This  tribute  so  sorely  aggrieved  the  people, 
that  it  became  as  it  were  a  bye  word  in  the  city,  Give  the  barley. 
They  say  there  was  a  great  mastiff,  with  whom  they  killed  beef  in 
the  shambles,  who,  whenever  he  heard,  '  Give  the  barley,'  began 
to  bark  and  growl :  upon  which  a  Trobador  said,  Thanks  be  to 
God,  we  have  many  in  the  town  who  are  like  the  mastiff. 

VIII.  When  they  who  held  the  castles  sent  presents  to  King 
Yahia,  there  was  one  among  them,  by  name  Abenmazot,  who  held 


30R  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

\;iti\a,  who  neither  sent  him  gifts,  nor  came  to  offer  obedience. 
And  the  King  sent  to  bid  him  come  before  him.  But  then  Aben- 
mazot sent  a  messenger  with  letters  and  full  rich  presents,  saying 
that  he  could  by  no  means  come  himself,  and  this  not  from  any 
feigning,  and  that  he  would  alway  do  him  service  with  a  true  good 
will.  And  he  besought  him  as  his  Lord  to  let  him  remain  in 
Xativa,  and  he  would  give  him  the  rents  thereof;  but  if  it  was  his 
pleasure  to  appoint  some  other  in  his  stead,  he  besought  that  he 
would  then  give  him  something  for  himself  and  iiis  company  to 
subsist  upon,  seeing  that  he  desired  nothing  but  the  King's  favour 
to  be  well  with  him.  Then  the  King  took  counsel  with  Aboeza 
the  Guazil,  and  the  Guazil  advised  him  to  do  unto  Abenmazot  even 
as  he  had  requested,  and  let  him  keep  Xativa ;  and  to  send  away 
Alvar  Fanez  because  of  the  great  charge  it  was  to  maintain  him, 
and  to  live  in  peace,  and  put  his  kingdom  in  order ;  in  all  which 
he  advised  him  like  a  good  counsellor  and  a  true.  But  the  King 
would  not  give  heed  to  him  ;  instead  thereof  he  communicated  his 
counsel  to  the  two  sons  of  Abdalla  Azis  who  had  submitted  unto 
him,  and  whom  he  had  taken  into  his  favour,  and  they  told  him 
that  Aboeza  had  advised  him  ill,  and  that  it  behoved  him  to  lead 
out  his  host  and  bring  Abenmazot  to  obedience.  And  the  King 
believed  them  and  went  out  and  besieged  Xativa.  And  the  first 
day  he  entered  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  but  Abenmazot  retired 
to  the  Alcazar  and  the  fortresses,  and  defended  the  upper  part ; 
and  the  King  besieged  him  there  for  four  months,  attacking  him 
every  day,  till  food  began  to  fail  both  in  the  army  of  the  King  and 
in  the  town.  And  they  of  Valencia  could  not  supply  what  was  to 
be  paid  to  Alvar  Fanez  and  his  company,  much  less  what  the 
King  wanted.  Then  the  King  understood  that  he  had  been  ill 
advised,  and  for  this  reason  he  condemned  one  of  the  sons  of 
Abdalla  Azis  to  pay  Alvar  Fanez  for  thirty  days ;  and  he  seized  a 
Jew  who  was  one  of  his  Almoxarifes  in  Valencia,  that  is  to  say,  one 
who  collected  the  taxes,  and  took  from  him  all  that  he  had,  because 
he  had  advised  him  ill,  and  while  this  lasted  the  people  of  Valencia 
had  some  respite. 

IX.  When  Abenmazot  saw  that  the  King  was  bent  upon  destroy- 
ing him,  and  that  every  day  he  pressed  him  more  and  more,  he 
sent  to  Abenalfange  who  was  King  of  Denia  and  Tortosa,  saying, 
that  if  he  would  come  and  help  him,  he  would  make  him  Lord  of 
Xativa  and  of  all  his  other  Castles,  and  would  be  at  his  mercy ; 
and  this  he  did  to  escape  from  the  hands  of  Yahia.  When  Aben- 
alfange heard  this  it  pleased  him  well,  and  he  sent  one  of  his 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  309 

• 

Alcaydes,  who  was  called  the  Left-handed,  to  enter  the  Alcazar, 
and  help  to  defend  it  till  he  could  collect  a  company  of  Christians 
who  might  deal  with  Alvar  Fanez.  So  that  Left-handed  one  en- 
tered the  Alcazar  with  his  company,  and  the  Lord  of  the  Castle 
which  was  called  Almenar,  was  already  there  to  help  Abenmazot, 
and  encourage  him  that  he  should  not  submit.  Then  Abenalfange 
gathered  together  all  his  host  and  his  cavalry,  and  brought  with 
him  Giralte  the  Roman,  with  a  company  of  French  knights,  and 
came  towards  Xativa,  as  a  hungry  lion  goes  against  a  sheep,  or  like 
the  coming  of  a  flood  in  its  hour ;  so  that  Yahia  was  dismayed  at 
the  tidings  of  his  approach,  and  fled  as  fast  as  he  could  to  the 
Isle  of  Xucar,  and  though  that  Isle  was  so  near,  he  thought  he  had 
done  a  great  thing ;  and  from  thence  he  went  to  Valencia,  holding 
himself  greatly  dishonoured.  Then  Abenalfange  had  Xativa  and 
all  its  Castles,  so  that  it  was  all  one  kingdom  as  far  as  Denia.  And 
he  took  Abenmazot  with  all  his  women  and  his  household  and  all 
that  he  had,  to  Denia,  and  gave  him  possessions  there,  and  did 
him  much  honour.  And  when  it  was  seen  that  King  Yahia  was 
thus  dishonoured,  and  that  Alvar  Fanez  had  not  helped  him  as 
had  been  looked  for,  they  who  held  the  Castles  lost  all  fear  of  him, 
so  that  their  hearts  were  changed  towards  him,  as  well  they  of 
Valencia  as  of  the  other  Castles,  and  they  said  that  they  would 
rather  belong  to  Abenalfange  than  to  him,  because  the  town  could 
not  bear  the  charge  of  the  Christians,  nor  the  oppressions  which 
they  suffered  because  of  them. 

X.  Abenalfange  abode  some  days  in  Xativa,  and  then  moved  on 
towards  Valencia,  thinking  to  win  the  city  ;  for  he  knew  how  greatly 
the  people  were  oppressed  because  of  the  Christians,  and  that  they 
could  not  bear  it,  and  that  there  was  no  love  between  them  and 
their  Lord.  And  he  passed  by  a  place  which  was  an  oratory  of 
the  Moors  in  their  festivals,  which  they  call  in  Arabic  Axera,  or 
Araxea;  and  he  halted  near  Valencia,  so  that  they  in  the  town 
might  see  him ;  and  he  went  round  about  the  town,  to  the  right 
and  to  the  left,  wheresoever  he  would.  The  King  of  Valencia  with 
his  knights  was  near  the  wall  watching  him,  and  Alvar  Fanez  and 
his  company  were  in  readiness  lest  the  French  should  defy  them. 
And  after  Abenalfange  had  stayed  there  awhile  he  drew  off  and 
went  his  way  to  Tortosa.  And  Yahia  was  perplexed  with  Alvar 
Fanez,  and  sought  for  means  to  pay  him  ;  and  he  threw  the  two 
sons  of  Abdalla  Azis  into  prison,  and  many  other  good  men  of  the 
town  also,  and  took  from  them  great  riches.  Then  he  made  a 
covenant  with  Alvar  Fanez  that  he  should  remain  with  him,  and 


310  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CW, 

» 

gave  him  great  possessions.  And  when  the  Moors  saw  that  Alvar 
Fanez  was  in  such  power,  all  the  ruffians  and  lewd  livers  in  the 
town  flocked  unto  him,  so  that  Valencia  was  in  the  hands  of  him 
and  his  followers ;  and  the  Moors  being  desperate  of  remedy 
deserted  the  town,  and  went  whither  they  could,  setting  at  nought 
their  inheritances,  for  no  man  was  safe,  neither  in  his  goods  nor 
person.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  made  an  inroad  into  the  lands  of 
Abenalfange,  and  overran  the  lands  of  Buriana,  and  other  parts  : 
and  there  went  with  him  a  great  company  of  those  Moorish  des- 
peradoes, who  had  joined  with  him,  and  of  other  Moorish  Almo- 
gavares,1  and  they  stormed  towns  and  castles,  and  slew  many 
Moors,  and  brought  away  flocks  and  herds  both  of  cattle  and  of 
brood  mares,  and  much  gold  and  silver,  and  store  of  wearing 
apparel,  all  which  they  sold  in  Valencia. 

XI.  Now  when  one  of  the  sons  of  Abdalla  Azis  was  loosed  from 
prison,  he  placed  his  love  upon  Alvar  Fanez  and  gave  him  goodly 
gifts,  and  upon  Aboeza  the  King's  Guazil,  and  upon  a  Jew  who 
was  a  messenger  from  King  Don  Alfonso.  And  they  all  sent  to 
King  Don  Alfonso  to  beseech  him  that  he  would  take  the  son  of 
Abdalla  Azis  and  all  that  he  had  under  his  protection,  so  that 
Yahia  might  do  no  evil  unto  him,  neither  take  by  force  from  him 
anything  that  was  his ;  and  for  this  protection  he  promised  to  give 
the  King  thirty  thousand  maravedis  yearly.  This  request  King 
Don  Alfonso  granted,  and  incontinently  he  took  him  under  his 
protection,  and  sent  to  the  King  of  Valencia  to  request  that  he 
would  do  him  no  wrong.  Therefore  the  son  of  Abdalla  Azis  was 
from  that  time  held  in  more  honour  because  of  the  love  of  King 
Don  Alfonso  ;  nevertheless,  he  was  still  kept  under  a  guard  in  his 
own  house,  that  he  should  not  issue  forth.  And  because  of  this 
confinement  not  thinking  himself  safe,  he  made  a  hole  through  the 
wall  and  got  out  by  night  in  woman's  apparel,  and  lay  hid  all  the 

1  These  men  winter  and  summer  lay  upon  the  bare  earth,  they  consorted  in 
the  camp  with  none  but  their  fellows,  their  manners  were  sullen  like  sa\  a^t-s. 
they  spake  little,  but  when  they  went  to  battle  were  like  wild  beasts  let  Incise, 
and  kindled  with  joy.  Winter  and  summer  they  wore  the  same  dress  of  skins 
girt  with  a  cord  of  esparto.  Shoes,  bonnet,  and  scrip  were  of  the  same  skin  as 
their  dress;  they  carried  spear,  sword,  and  dagger,  some  of  them  a  mace 
(porrimaza),  and  without  any  defensive  armour  attacked  horse  or  foot,  gen- 
erally the  horse.  The  Almogavar,  when  a  horseman  ran  at  him,  rested  the  end 
of  his  lance  against  his  right  foot,  bent  forward,  and  let  the  horse  spit  himself; 
—  in  a  moment  he  was  upon  the  fallen  horseman  with  his  dagger,  or  rather 
knife.  If  he  could  kill  the  man  and  save  the  horse,  his  reward  was  to  become 
a  horse-soldier  himself,  for  they  were  as  skilful  when  mounted  as  "hen  a-foot. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  311 

next  day  in  a  garden,  and  on  the  following  night  mounted  on 
horseback  and  rode  to  Monviedro.  When  the  Guazil  knew  this 
he  took  his  son  and  his  uncle  as  sureties  for  him  for  the  thirty 
thousand  maravedis,  which  the  Jew  was  now  come  to  receive  for 
King  Don  Alfonso.  And  they  went  to  Monviedro  to  him,  and 
communed  with  him,  and  accorded  with  him  that  he  should  pay 
the  one  half  immediately,  and  whenever  he  returned  to  Valencia 
and  was  safe  there  in  possession  of  all  his  rents  and  inheritances, 
that  then  he  should  pay  the  remainder :  so  he  paid  the  fifteen 
thousand  forthwith  in  silver  and  in  rings  of  gold,  and  in  cloth,  and 
in  strings  of  pearls,  and  the  Jew  returned  therewith  to  King  Don 
Alfonso.  At  this  time  his  brother  was  released  from  prison  by  de- 
sire of  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  he  went  unto  him ;  and  many  of  the 
rich  men  of  the  city  also  betook  themselves  to  Monviedro,  because 
they  were  not  secure  neither  in  their  possessions  nor  in  their  bodies. 
XII.  In  these  days  the  Almoravides  arose  in  Barbary.  The  rise 
of  this  people  and  all  that  they  did  in  Spain  are  not  for  me  to  relate 
in  this  place.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  King  Don  Alfonso  being  in 
great  danger,  sent  for  Alvar  Fanez  and  all  his  company ;  and  that 
he  had  so  much  to  do  for  himself  that  he  took  no  thought  for 
Valencia.  And  when  they  who  had  the  keeping  of  Yahia's  Castles 
saw  this  they  rose  against  him,  so  that  few  remained  unto  him,  and 
they  of  his  vassals  in  whom  he  put  the  most  trust  proved  false,  so 
that  the  heart  of  the  King  of  Denia  and  Tortosa  grew,  and  he 
thought  to  win  Valencia.  The  chief  persons  of  the  town  also  sent 
unto  him,  saying,  that  if  he  would  come  they  would  give  the  city 
into  his  hands.  So  he  gathered  together  his  host,  and  a  company 
of  French  also,  and  sent  them  forward  under  the  command  of  his 
uncle,  saying  that  he  would  follow  and  join  them  on  a  certain  day. 
But  they  went  forward,  and  Yahia  thinking  that  if  he  could  con- 
quer them  he  should  be  secure,  went  out  and  fought  against  them  ; 
and  he  was  defeated  and  lost  a  great  part  of  his  people  and  of  his 
arms,  and  returned  into  the  city  with  great  loss.  When  Abenal- 
fange,  who  was  a  day's  journey  off,  heard  this,  he  marched  all  night, 
and  came  before  Valencia.  And  King  Yahia  knew  not  what  to  do. 
and  was  minded  to  yield  up  to  the  town.  And  he  took  counsel 
with  his  people,  and  they  advised  him  to  send  for  help  to  King 
Don  Alfonso,  and  also  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  he  did  accord- 
ingly. And  an  Arrayaz  of  Cuenca,  whose  name  was  Abencano,  who 
was  a  native  of  Valencia,  went  to  Zaragoza,  and  told  the  King  that 
if  he  would  go  thither  he  would  deliver  the  city  into  his  hands,  for 
it  appertained  unto  him  rather  than  to  Abenalfange. 


312  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

XIII.  And  in  those  days  my  Cid  gathered  together  a  great  force, 
and  went  to  the  borders  of  Arragon,  and  crossed  the  Douro,  and 
lodged  that  night  in  Fresno.     From  thence  he  went  to  Calamocha, 
where  he  kept  Whitsuntide.     While  he  lay  there  the  King  of  Al- 
barrazin,  being  in  great  fear  of  him,  sent  to  him  requesting  that 
they  might  meet.     And  when  they  saw  each  other  they  established 
great  love  between  them,  and  the  King  from  that  day  became  trib- 
utary to  the  Cid.     Then  the  Cid  went  to  Zaragoza,  where  he  was 
full  honourably  received.     And  when  Abencano  came  to  Zaragoza 
inviting  King  Almescahen  to  go  and  take  Valencia,  and  King  Yahia 
sent  also  to  beg  succour  at  his  hands,  the  King  asked  the  Cid  to  go 
with  him,  and  gave  him  whatever  he  demanded.    So  greatly  did  this 
King  desire  to  have  Valencia,  that  he  looked  not  whether  his  force 
was  great  or  little,  nor  whether  that  of  the  Cid  was  greater  than  his 
own,  but  went  on  as  fast  as  he  could.     When  the  King  of  Denia 
heard  that  he  was  coming  and  the  Cid  with  him,  he  durst  not  abide 
them.     And  he  thought  that  the  King  of  Zaragoza  by  the  Cid's 
help  would  win  the  city,  and  that  he  should  remain  with  the  labour 
he  had  undergone,  and  the  costs.     Then  he  placed  his  love  upon 
King  Yahia,  and  sent  him  all  the  food  he  had,  and  besought  him 
to  help  him,  saying  that  he  would  supply  him  with  whatever  he 
needed.     King  Yahia  was  well  pleased  with  this,  though  he  well 
understood  the  reason,  and  firm  writings  were  made  to  this  effect, 
and  then  Abenalfange  went  to  Tortosa. 

XIV.  When  the  King  of  Zaragoza  and  the  Cid  drew  nigh  unto 
Valencia,  Yahia  went  out  to  welcome  them,  and  thanked  them 
greatly  for  coming  to  his  assistance ;  and  he  lodged  them  in  the 
great  garden,  which  was  called  the  Garden  of  Villa  Nueva,  and 
honoured  them  greatly  and  sent  them  great  presents :    and  he 
invited  them  afterwards  to  come  with  their  honourable  men  and  be 
his  guests  in  the  Alcazar.     But  the  King  of  Zaragoza  all  this  while 
had  his  eye  upon  the  town,  thinking  that  it  would  be  given  up  to 
him  as  Abencano  had  promised ;  but  he  saw  no  sign  of  this,  neither 
knew  he  how  he  could  win  it.     Moreover  Yahia  had  placed  his 
love  upon  the  Cid,  and  had  sent  him  full  noble  gifts  when  he  was 
upon  the  road,  in  secret,  so  that  the  King  of  Zaragoza  knew  not 
thereof.     And  the  King  of  Zaragoza  asked  counsel  of  the  Cid  how 
he  might  get  Valencia  into  his  hands,  and  besought  the  Cid  to  help 
him.     But  the  Cid  made  answer,  how  could  that  be,  seeing  that 
Yahia  had  received  it  from  the  hands  of  King  Don  Alfonso,  who 
had  given  it  unto  him  that  he  might  dwell  therein.     If  indeed  King 
Don  Alfonso  should  give  it  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  then  might 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  313 

the  King  win  it,  and  he  would  help  him  so  to  do  ;  otherwise  he  must 
be  against  him.  When  the  King  heard  this  he  perceived  how  the 
Cid  stood  in  this  matter :  and  he  left  an  Alcayde  with  a  body  of 
knights  to  assist  King  Yahia,  and  also  to  see  if  he  could  win  the 
town  :  and  he  himself  returned  to  Zaragoza. 

XV.  Then  the  Cid  went  to  besiege  the  Castle  called  Xerica,  by 
idvice  of  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  that  he  might  have  a  frontier 
igainst  Monviedro.  This  he  did  because,  when  the  King  came  to 
relieve  Valencia,  Aboeza  had  covenanted  to  give  up  Monviedro 
unto  him,  the  which  he  had  not  done  ;  and  the  King  thought  that 
if  he  made  war  upon  these  Castles  they  must  either  yield  unto  him, 
or  be  at  his  mercy,  because  they  did  not  belong  to  the  King  of 
Denia.  But  when  Aboeza  knew  this  he  sent  to  Abenalfange  the 
King  of  Denia,  saying  that  he  would  give  him  the  Castle ;  and  the 
King  of  Denia  incontinently  came  and  took  possession  of  it,  and 
Aboeza  became  his  vassal.  When  the  Cid  saw  this  he  understood 
that  Valencia  must  needs  be  lost,  and  thought  in  his  heart  that  he 
could  win  the  city  for  himself,  and  keep  it.  Then  sent  he  letters 
to  King  Don  Alfonso,  in  which  he  besought  him  of  his  mercy  not 
to  think  it  ill  that  the  people  who  were  with  him  should  remain 
with  him,  for  he  would  do  God  service,  and  maintain  them  at  the 
cost  of  the  Moors,  and  whensoever  the  King  stood  in  need  of  their 
service,  he  and  they  would  go  unto  him  and  serve  him  freely  ; 
and  at  other  times  they  would  make  war  upon  the  Moors,  and 
break  their  power,  so  that  the  King  might  win  the  land.  Well 
was  King  Don  Alfonso  pleased  at  this,  and  he  sent  to  say  that  they 
who  were  in  the  Cid's  company  might  remain  with  him,  and  that 
as  many  as  would  might  go  join  him.  And  my  Cid  went  to  the 
King  to  commune  with  him,  and  while  my  Cid  was  with  him,  Don 
Ramon  Berenguer,  Lord  of  Barcelona,  came  to  Zaragoza ;  and  the 
King  gave  him  great  gifts,  that  he  might  not  place  his  love  upon 
any  other  for  want ;  for  the  King  had  now  put  away  his  love  from 
the  Cid,  thinking  that  because  of  him  he  had  lost  Valencia.  And 
presently  he  sent  a  force  to  besiege  Valencia  under  Don  Ramon 
Berenguer ;  and  he  had  two  Bastiles  built,  one  in  Liria,  which  King 
Yahia  had  given  him  when  he  came  to  relieve  him,  and  the  other  in 
Tuballa,  and  he  thought  to  build  another  on  the  side  of  Albuhera,  so 
that  none  might  enter  into  the  city,  neither  go  out  from  it.  And  he 
re-edified  the  Castle  of  Cebolla,  that  the  Count  might  retire  thither 
if  it  should  be  needful,  and  every  day  the  Count  attacked  the  city, 
and  King  Yahia  defended  himself,  looking  for  the  coming  of  the  Cid 
to  help  him,  according  to  the  covenant  which  was  between  them. 


314  CHROXICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

XVI.  When   the   Cid   returned   from   Castile   and  knew  that 
Valencia  was  besieged  by  the  French,  he  went  to  Tares  which 
is  near  Monviedro,  and  encamped  there  with  his  people,  who 
were  many  in  number.     And  when  the  Count  knew  that  the  Cid 
was  so  near,  he  feared  him,  holding  him  to  be  his  enemy.     And 
the  Cid  sent  to  him  to  bid  him  move  from  that  place  and  raise 
the  siege  of  Valencia.     The  Count  took  counsel  with  his  knights, 
and  they  said  that  they  would  rather  give  battle  to  the  Cid.    How- 
beit  the  Cid  had  no  wish  to  fight  with  them,  because  the  Count 
was  related  to  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  moreover  he  had  defeated 
him  and  made  him  prisoner  heretofore ;  so  he  sent  a  second  time, 
bidding  him  depart.     And  the  Count  seeing  that  he  could  not 
abide  there  in  the  Cid's  despite,  broke   up  the  siege  and  went 
his  way  by  Requena,  for  he  would  not  pass  through   Zaragoza. 
Then  the  Cid  went  to  Valencia,  and  King  Yahia  received  him  full 
honourably,  and  made  a  covenant  with  him  to  give  him  weekly 
four   thousand  maravedis  of  silver,  and  he  on  his  part  was  to 
reduce  the  Castles  to  his  obedience,  so  that  they  should  pay  the 
same  rents  unto  him  as  had  been  paid  unto  the  former  Kings  of 
Valencia ;  and  that  the  Cid  should  protect  him  against  all  men, 
Moors  or  Christians,  and  should  have  his  home  in  Valencia,  and 
bring  all  his  booty  there  to  be  sold,  and  that  he  should  have  his 
granaries  there.     This  covenant  was  confirmed  in  writing,  so  that 
they  were  secure  on  one  side  and  on  the  other.     And  my  Cid  sent 
to  all  those  who  held  the  Castles,  commanding  them  to  pay  their 
rents  to  the  King  of  Valencia  as  they  had  done  aforetime,  and 
they  all  obeyed  his  command,  every  one  striving  to  have  his  love. 

XVII.  When  the  Cid  had  thus  set  the  land  in  order  he  went 
against  the  King  of  Denia,  and  warred  against  Denia  and  against 
Xativa ;  and  he  abode  there  all  the  winter,  doing  great  hurt,  inso- 
much that  there  did  not  remain  a  wall  standing  from  Orihuela  to 
Xativa,  for  he  laid  everything  waste  ;  and  all  his  booty  and  his 
prisoners  he  sold  in  Valencia.     Then  he  went   towards  Tortosa, 
destroying  everything  as  he  went ;  and  he  pitched  his  camp  near 
unto  the  city  of  Tortosa,  in  a  place  which  in  Arabic  is  called 
Maurelet,  and  he  cut  down  everything  before  him,  orchards  and 
vines  and  corn.     When  King  Abenalfange  saw  that  the  land  \v;is 
thus  destroyed,  and  that  neither  bread,  nor  wine,  nor  flocks  would 
be  left  him,  he  sent  to  Count  Ramon  Berenguer,  beseeching  him 
to  gather  together  a  great  force,  and  drive  the  Cid  out  of  the  land, 
for  which  service  he  would  give  him  whatever  he  might  stand  in 
need  of.     And  the  Count,  thinking  now  to  be  revenged  of  the  ('id 


RODRIGO  DIAZ.   DE  BIVAR.  315 

for  his  former  defeat,  and  because  he  had  taken  from  him  the 
rents  which  he  used  to  receive  from  the  land  of  Valencia,  took 
what  the  King  gave  him,  and  assembled  a  great  host  of  the  Chris- 
tians. This  was  so  great  a  power  when  the  Moors  had  joined, 
that  they  surely  thought  the  Cid  would  fly  before  them ;  for  the 
Moors  held  that  these  Frenchmen  were  the  best  knights  in  the 
world,  and  the  best  appointed,  and  they  who  could  bear  the  most 
in  battle.  When  the  Cid  knew  that  they  came  resolved  to  fight 
him,  he  doubted  that  he  could  not  give  them  battle  because  of 
their  great  numbers,  and  sought  how  he  might  wisely  disperse 
them.  And  he  got  among  the  mountain  valleys,  whereunto  the 
entrance  was  by  a  narrow  strait,  and  there  he  planted  his  barriers, 
and  guarded  them  well  that  the  Frenchmen  might  not  enter.  The 
King  of  Zaragoza  sent  to  tell  him  to  be  upon  his  guard,  for  Count 
Ramon  Berenguer  would  without  doubt  attack  him  :  and  the  Cid 
returned  for  answer,  Let  him  come.  On  the  morrow  the  Count 
came  nearer,  and  encamped  a  league  off,  in  sight  of  him,  and  when 
it  was  night  he  sent  his  spies  to  view  the  camp  of  Ruydiez  the  Cid. 
The  next  day  he  sent  to  bid  him  come  out  and  fight,  and  the  Cid 
answered,  that  he  did  not  want  to  fight  nor  to  have  any  strife  with 
him,  but  to  pass  on  with  his  people.  And  they  drew  nearer  and 
invited  him  to  come  out,  and  defied  him,  saying  that  he  feared  to 
meet  them  in  the  field  ;  but  he  set  nothing  by  all  this.  They 
thought  he  did  it  because  of  his  weakness,  and  that  he  was  afraid 
of  them  ;  but  what  he  did  was  to  wear  out  their  patience. 

XVIII.  Then  the  Count  sent  a  letter  to  the  Cid  after  this  fashion  : 
I  count  Don  Ramon  Berenguer  of  Barcelona,  and  all  my  vassals 
with  me,  say  unto  thee,  Ruydiez,  that  we  have  seen  thy  letter  to 
King  Almescahen  of  Zaragoza,  which  thou  toldest  him  to  show 
unto  us,  that  we  might  have  the  more  cause  of  quarrel  against 
thee.  Before  this  thou  hast  done  great  displeasure  unto  us,  so 
that  we  ought  at  all  times  to  bear  ill  will  against  thee.  And 
now  while  thou  hast  our  goods  in  thy  possession  as  booty,  thou 
sendest  thy  letter  to  King  Almescahen,  saying  that  we  are  like  our 
wives.  God  give  us  means  to  show  thee  that  we  are  not  such. 
And  thou  saidst  unto  him,  that  before  we  could  be  with  thee  thou 
wouldst  come  to  us  ;  now  we  will  not  alight  from  our  horses  till  we 
have  taken  vengeance  on  thee,  and  seen  what  sort  of  Gods  these 
mountain  crows  and  daws  are,  in  whom  thou  puttest  thy  trust  to 
fight  with  us ;  whereas  we  believe  in  one  (iod  alone,  who  will  give 
us  vengeance  against  thee.  Of  a  truth,  to-morrow  morning  we  will 
be  with  thee,  and  if  thou  wilt  leave  the  mountain  and  come  out  to 


316  CHRONICLE    OF  THE   CID, 

us  in  the  plain,  then  wilt  thou  be,  as  they  call  thee,  Rodrigo  the 
Campeador.  But  if  thou  wilt  not  do  this,  thou  wilt  then  be  what 
according  to  the  custom  of  Castile  is  called  alevoso,  and  bauzador 
according  to  the  custom  of  France  ;  that  is  to  say,  a  false  traitor. 
And  if  thou  wilt  not  come  down  from  the  mountain  it  shall  not 
avail  thee,  for  we  will  not  depart  from  hence  till  we  have  thee  in 
our  hands,  either  dead  or  alive,  and  we  will  deal  with  thee  as  thou 
hast  done  by  us,  and  God  in  his  mercy  now  take  vengeance  upon 
thee  for  his  churches  which  thou  hast  destroyed. 

XIX.  When  the  Cid  had  read  this  letter  he  wrote  another  in 
reply  after  this  manner  :  I  Ruydiez  and  my  vassals  :  God  save  you 
Count !     I  have  seen  your  letter  in  which  you  tell  me  that  I  sent 
one  to  King  Almescahen  of  Zaragoza  speaking  contumeliously  of 
you  and  of  all  your  vassals ;  and  true  it  is  that  I  did  so  speak,  and 
I  will  tell  you  for  what  reason.     When  you  were  with  him  you 
spake  contumeliously  of  me  before  him,  saying  of  me  the  worst 
you  could,  and  affirming  that  I  did  not  dare  enter  the  lands  of 
Abenalfange  for  fear  of  you.     Moreover  Ramon  de  Bajaran,  and 
other  of  your  knights  who  were  with  him,  spake  ill  of  me  and  of 
my  vassals  before  King  Don  Alfonso  of  Castile,  and  you  also  after 
this  went  to   King  Don  Alfonso,  and  said  that  you  would  have 
fought  with  me,  and  driven  me  out  of  the  lands  of  Abenalfange, 
but  that  I  was  dismayed,  and  did  not  dare  do  battle  with  you  ;  and 
you  said  unto  him,  that  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  love  of  him,  you 
would  not  have  suffered  me  to  be  one  day  in  the  land.     Now  then 
I  say  that  I  thank  you  because  you  no  longer  let  me  alone  for  the 
love  of  him.     Come  !  here  I  am  ;  this  is  the  plainest  ground  among 
these  mountains,  and  I  am  ready  to  receive  you.     But  I  know  you 
dare  not  come,  for  Moors  and  Christians  know  that  I  conquered 
you  once,  and  took  you  and  your  vassals,  and  took  from  ye  all 
that  ye  had  with  ye  :  and  if  ye  come  now  ye  shall  receive  the  same 
payment  at  my  hands  as  heretofore.     As   for  what   thou  sayest 
that  I  am  a  false  traitor,  thou  liest,  and  art  a  false  traitor  thyself. 

XX.  Greatly  was  the  Count  enraged  when  he  read  this  letter, 
and  he  took  counsel  with  his  vassals,  and  in  the  night  time  took 
possession  of  the  mountain  above  the  camp  of  the  Cid,  thinking 
that  by  this  means  he  might  conquer  him.     On  the  morrow  the 
Cid  sent  away  certain  of  his  company  as  if  they  were  flying,  and 
bade  them  go  by  such  ways  that  the  French  might  see  them,  and 
instructed  them  what  to  say  when  they  should  be  taken.     When 
the  French  saw  them,  they  pursued  and  took  them,  and  carried 
them  before  the  Count,  and  he  asked  of  them  what  the  Cid  would 


RODKTGO  DJAZ  DE   BTVAR.  317 

do.  Then  made  they  answer  that  he  meant  to  fly,  and  had  only 
remained  that  day  to  put  his  things  in  order  for  flight,  and  as  soon 
as  night  came  he  would  make  his  escape  by  way  of  the  mountain. 
Moreover  they  said  that  the  Cid  did  not  think  Count  Ramon  had 
it  so  much  at  heart  to  give  him  battle,  or  he  would  not  have 
awaited  till  his  coming ;  and  they  counselled  the  Count  to  send 
and  take  possession  of  the  passes  by  which  he  meant  to  escape, 
for  so  he  might  easily  take  him.  Then  the  Frenchmen  divided 
their  host  into  four  parts,  and  sent  them  to  guard  the  passes,  and 
the  Count  himself  remained  with  one  part  at  the  entrance  of  the 
straits.  The  Cid  was  ready  with  all  his  company,  and  he  had 
sent  the  Moors  who  were  with  him  forward  to  the  passes  whither 
his  men  had  directed  the  Frenchmen,  and  they  lay  in  ambush 
there ;  and  when  the  Frenchmen  were  in  the  strong  places,  and 
had  begun  to  ascend,  little  by  little,  as  they  could,  they  rose  upon 
them  from  the  ambush  and  slew  many,  and  took  others  of  the  best, 
and  among  the  prisoners  was  Guirabent  the  brother  of  Giralte  the 
Roman,  who  was  wounded  in  the  face.  And  the  Cid  went  out  and 
attacked  the  Count,  and  the  battle  was  a  hard  one ;  the  Count 
was  beaten  from  his  horse,  nevertheless  his  men  remounted  him, 
and  he  bade  them  stand  to  it  bravely,  and  the  battle  lasted  a  long « 
time ;  but  at  the  end,  he  who  was  never  conquered  won  the  day. 
And  the  Cid  took  a  good  thousand  prisoners ;  among  them  was 
Don  Bernalte  de  Tamaris,  and  Giralte  the  Roman,  and  Ricarte 
Guillen.  And  he  put  them  all  in  irons,  and  reproached  them  say- 
ing, that  he  well  knew  what  his  chivalry  was,  and  his  hardihood, 
and  that  he  should  thus  beat  them  all  down ;  and  he  said  to  them 
that  he  was  in  God's  service,  taking  vengeance  for  the  ills  which 
the  Moors  had  done  unto  the  Christians,  and  had  done  them  no 
wrong;  but  they  being  envious  of  him,  had  come  to  help  the 
Moors,  therefore  God  had  helped  him,  because  he  was  in  His  ser- 
vice. And  he  took  their  tents,  and  their  horses,  and  their  arms, 
which  were  many  and  good ;  and  much  gold  and  silver,  and  fine 
linen,  and  all  that  they  had,  so  that  he  and  all  his  company  were 
rich  men  with  the  spoils.  And  when  Count  Ramon  heard  in  his 
flight  that  the  Cid  had  taken  all  his  chief  captains,  and  that  well- 
nigh  all  his  power  was  either  slain  or  taken,  he  thought  it  best  to 
come  unto  the  Cid  and  trust  unto  his  mercy,  and  he  came  full 
humbly  and  put  himself  into  his  hands.  And  the  Cid  received 
him  full  well  and  honoured  him  greatly,  and  let  him  go  into  his 
own  country.  And  the  Count  offered  a  price  for  the  prisoners 
which  was  a  full  great  ransom,  and  moreover  the  swords  precious 


318  C/fKO. \~fCLE    OF   THE    CID, 

above  all  others,  which  were  made  in  other  times.  Bountiful  was  the 
Cid  when  he  received  this  ransom,  and  great  part  of  it  he  returned 
unto  them  again,  and  showed  them  great  courtesy,  and  they  did  hom- 
age to  him  never  to  come  against  him  with  any  man  in  the  world. 

XXI.  When  Abenalfange  the  King  of  Denia  and  Tortosa  heard 
this,  he  was  so  sorely  grieved  that  he  fell  sick  and  died.  He  left 
one  son  who  was  a  little  one,  and  the  sons  of  Buxar  were  his 
guardians.  One  of  these  held  Tortosa  for  the  child,  and  the  other 
held  Xativa,  and  one  who  was  their  cousin  held  Denia.  And 
they  knowing  that  they  could  neither  live  in  peace,  nor  yet  have 
strength  for  war,  unless  they  could  have  the  love  of  the  Cid,  sent 
humbly  to  say  unto  him  that  if  he  would  do  no  hurt  to  their  lands 
they  would  do  whatever  he  pleased,  and  pay  him  yearly  what  he 
should  think  good.  And  the  Cid  demanded  of  them  fifty  thousand 
maravedis  of  silver  every  year:  and  the  covenant  was  made  be- 
tween them,  and  the  whole  country  from  Tortosa  to  Orihuela  was 
under  his  protection  and  at  his  command.  And  he  fixed  the  trib- 
ute which  each  Castle  was  to  pay,  that  it  should  be  certain ;  and  it 
was  as  you  shall  be  told.  The  Lord  of  Albarrazin  was  to  pay  ten 
thousand,  according  to  covenant  as  you  heard  heretofore,  and  the 
Lord  of  Alfuente  ten  thousand,  and  Monviedro  eight  thousand, 
and  Segorbe  six  thousand,  and  Xerica  four  thousand,  and  Alme- 
nara  three  thousand.  Liria  at  that  time  paid  nothing,  for  it  was  in 
the  Lordship  of  Zaragoza ;  but  the  Cid  had  it  in  his  heart  to  fight 
with  that  King.  For  every  thousand  maravedis  a  hundred  more 
were  paid  for  a  Bishop,  whom  the  Moors  called  Alat  Almarian. 
And  you  are  to  know  that  whatever  my  Cid  commanded  in  Valen- 
cia was  done,  and  whatever  he  forbad  was  forbidden.  And  be- 
cause the  King  was  sick  of  a  malady  which  continued  upon  him 
long  time,  so  that  he  could  not  mount  on  horseback,  and  was  seen 
by  none,  Valencia  remained  under  the  command  of  his  (Jua/il 
Abenalfarax,  whom  the  Cid  had  appointed.  And  then  the  Cid 
appointed  trusty  men  in  the  city  who  should  know  to  how  much 
the  rents  amounted,  as  well  those  of  the  land  as  of  the  sea ;  and 
in  every  village  he  placed  a  knight  to  protect  it,  so  that  none  dared 
do  wrong  to  another,  nor  take  anything  from  him.  Each  of  these 
knights  had  three  maravedis  daily.  And  the  people  complained 
greatly  of  what  they  gave  these  knights,  and  of  that  also  which 
they  paid  to  King  Yahia.  Yet  were  they  withal  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  bread,  and  with  flocks  which  the  Christians  brought  in, 
and  with  captives  both  male  and  female,  and  with  Moorish  men 
and  women,  who  gave  great  sums  for  their  ransom. 


HODR/GO  DIAZ  DE  RIVAR.  319 

XXII.  Then  the  Cid  sent  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  bidding  him 
yield  up  the  Bastiles  which  he  had  built  against  Valencia ;  and  the 
King  returned  for  answer  that  he  would  not  until  King  Yahia  had 
paid  him  the  whole  cost  which  he  had  been  at,  when  he  came  to 
his  succour  against  King  Abenalfange.     Then  the  Cid  besieged 
Liria,  and  the  people  submitted  unto  him,  that  they  should  pay 
him  yearly  two  thousand  maravedis.     And  he  overran  the  whole  of 
the  King  of  Zaragoza's  country,  and  brought  great  spoils  to  Valen- 
cia.   Now  at  this  time  a  Moor  called  All  Abenaxa,  the  Adelantado 
of  the  Almoravides,  that  is  to  say,  of  the  Moors  from  beyond  sea, 
came  with  a  great  power  of  the  Moors  of  Andalusia  to  besiege  the 
Castle  of  Aledo.     This  he  did  because  he  knew  that  King  Don 
Alfonso  would  come  to  its  relief,  and  he  thought  that  peradventure 
the  King  would  bring  with  him  so  small  a  force  that  he  might  slay 
or  take  him.    But  when  the  King  heard  of  it  he  assembled  a  great 
host,  and  sent  to  the  Cid,  bidding  him  come  and  aid  him.     And 
the  Cid  went  to  Requena,  believing  that  he  should  meet  the  King 
there  ;  but  the  King  went  another  way,  and  the  Cid  not  knowing 
this  tarried  some  days  in  Requena  expecting  him,  because  that 
was  the  road.     And  when  the  Moors  knew  that  King  Don  Alfonso 
was  coming  with  so  great  a  host  to  relieve  the  Castle,  they  de- 
parted, flying.     And  King  Don  Alfonso  came  to  the  Castle,  and 
when  he  came  there  he  found  that  he  was  short  of  victuals,  and 
returned  in  great  distress  for  want  of  food,  and  lost  many  men  and 
many  beasts  who  could  not  pass  the  Sierra.     Nevertheless  he  sup- 
plied the  Castle  well  with  arms,  and  with  such  food  as  he  could. 

XXIII.  Now  they  who  hated  the  Cid  spake  leasing  of  him  to 
King  Don  Alfonso,  saying  that  he  had  tarried  in  Requena,  know- 
ing that  the  King  was  gone  another  way,  that  so  he  might  give  the 
Moors  opportunity  to  fall  upon  him.    And  the  King  believed  them, 
and  was  wroth  against  the  Cid,  and  ordered  all  that  he  had  in 
Castile  to  be  taken  from  him,  and  sent  to  take  his  wife,  and  his 
daughters.     When  the  Cid  heard  this  he  sent  presently  a  knight  to 
the  King  to  defend  himself,  saying,  that  if  there  were  Count  or 
Rico-ome  or  knight  who  would  maintain  that  he  had  a  better  and 
truer  will  to  do  the  King  service  than  he  had,  he  would  do  battle 
with  him  body  to  body,  but  the  King  being  greatly  incensed  would 
not  hear  him.     And  when  they  who  hated  the  Cid  saw  this,  and 
knew  that  the  Cid  was  gone  against  a  Castle  in  Zaragoza,  they 
besought  the  King  to  give  them  a  force  to  go  against  him ;  how- 
beit  this  the  King  would  not.     At  this  time  AH  Abenaxa,  the  Ade- 
lantado of  the  Almoravides,  besieged   Murcia,  and  there  was  a 


320  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   C//\ 

dearth  in  the  city,  and  Alvar  Fanez  who  should  have  relieved  them 
did  not,  and  they  were  so  closely  beset  that  they  were  compelled 
to  yield  up  the  town.  As  soon  as  he  had  taken  Murcia,  he  went 
against  the  Castle  of  Aledo,  of  which  you  have  heard,  and  assaulted 
it  vigorously,  and  took  it  by  force  and  by  famine.  And  when  he 
had  won  Murcia  and  Aledo,  he  wished  to  have  Valencia  also,  and 
they  of  Valencia,  because  of  the  yoke  of  the  Cid,  longed  to  be  his 
vassals,  even  as  the  sick  man  longeth  after  health.  When  King 
Don  Alfonso  heard  what  Ali  Abenaxa  had  done,  he  made  ready  to 
go  against  him.  And  the  Queen  his  wife,  and  certain  knights  who 
were  friends  to  the  Cid,  wrote  to  him  that  he  should  now  come 
and  serve  the  King  in  such  a  season,  that  the  King  might  thank 
him  greatly  and  lay  aside  his  wrath.  Having  seen  these  letters 
the  Cid  set  out  from  Zaragoza  where  he  was,  and  went  his  way 
with  a  great  host,  and  advanced  as  far  as  Martos,  where  he  found 
the  King.  And  the  King  received  him  honourably,  and  they  con- 
tinued together  till  the  King  passed  the  Sierra  de  Elvira,  and  the 
Cid  went  in  the  plain  below  before  him.  And  they  who  wished  ill 
to  him  said  to  the  King,  The  Cid  came  after  you  like  one  who  was 
wearied,  and  now  he  goes  before  you.  And  after  this  manner 
they  set  the  King  again  against  him,  so  that  his  displeasure  was 
greatly  moved.  And  the  Moors  did  not  venture  to  give  him  bat- 
tle, but  left  the  Castle  of  Aledo  and  retreated  to  Murcia,  and  the 
King  returned  to  Ubeda.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  that  the  heart 
of  the  King  was  changed,  he  returned  to  Valencia,  and  the  King 
went  back  to  Toledo. 

XXIV.  After  this  King  Don  Alfonso  drew  forth  a  great  host 
and  went  towards  Valencia,  and  sent  to  all  the  Castles  in  that  land, 
saying  that  for  five  years  they  should  pay  him  the  tribute  which 
they  were  wont  to  pay  unto  the  Cid.  When  the  Cid  knew  this 
he  sent  to  the  King,  saying,  he  marvelled  why  the  King  should 
thus  seek  to  dishonour  him,  and  that  he  trusted  in  God  soon  to 
make  him  know  how  ill  he  was  advised  by  those  about  him.  And 
presently  the  Cid  gathered  together  a  full  great  host  both  of  Moors 
and  of  Christians,  and  entered  the  land  of  King  Don  Alfonso, 
burning  and  destroying  whatever  he  found,  and  he  took  Logrono, 
and  Alfaro  also,  and  sacked  it.  While  he  was  at  Alfaro,  Count  Garci 
Ordonez  and  certain  other  Ricos-omes  of  Castile  sent  to  say  to 
him,  that  if  he  would  tarry  for  them  seven  days,  they  would  come 
and  give  him  battle.  He  tarried  for  them  twelve  days,  and  they 
did  not  dare  to  come  ;  and  when  the  Cid  saw  this  he  returned  to 
Zaragoza.  Now  when  King  Don  Alfonso  knew  what  the  Cid  had 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  321 

done  in  his  land,  and  that  the  Ricos-omes  had  not  dared  fight 
against  him,  he  saw  that  he  had  taken  an  evil  counsel  when  he  set 
his  heart  against  him.  And  he  sent  his  letters  to  the  Cid  saying, 
that  he  forgave  him  all  that  he  had  done,  seeing  that  he  himself 
had  given  the  occasion ;  and  he  besought  him  to  come  to  Castile, 
where  he  should  find  all  things  free  which  appertained  unto  him. 
Much  was  the  Cid  rejoiced  at  these  tidings,  and  he  wrote  to  the 
King  thanking  him  for  his  grace,  and  beseeching  him  not  to  give 
ear  to  bad  counsellors,  for  he  would  always  be  at  his  service. 

XXV.  Now  it  came  to  pass,  that  by  reason  of  certain  affairs  the 
Cid  tarried  a  long  time  in  Zaragoza.  And  they  of  Valencia  being 
no  longer  kept  in  awe  by  his  presence,  complained  one  to  another 
of  the  oppressions  and  wrongs  which  they  endured  from  him  and 
from  his  servants,  and  from  Abenalfarax,  the  Guazil  whom  he  had 
appointed  ;  and  they  conspired  with  an  Alcayde  who  was  called 
Abeniaf.  And  when  Abenalfarax  the  Guazil  understood  how  Abe- 
niaf  cast  about  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  city,  he  would  have 
taken  him  and  cast  him  in  prison ;  but  this  he  dared  not  do  till 
the  Cid  should  come,  and  moreover  he  weened  that  upon  his  com- 
ing the  disturbance  would  cease.  Now  Abeniaf  knew  that  the 
Guazil  was  minded  to  seize  him  if  he  could  have  dared  so  to  do, 
and  he  sent  his  messengers  to  Ali  Abenaxa  the  Adelantado  of  the 
Almoravides,  who  was  now  Lord  of  Murcia,  telling  him  to  come  to 
Valencia,  and  he  would  deliver  the  city  into  his  hands.  Moreover 
he  took  counsel  with  the  Alcayde  of  Algezira  de  Xucar,  that  the 
Alcayde  also  should  send  to  Ali  Abenaxa,  exhorting  him  to  make 
good  speed  himself,  or  to  send  an  Alcayde  with  a  fitting  power,  and 
to  come  to  Algezira,  which  was  near,  and  then  presently  proceed 
to  Valencia.  So  soon  as  Ali  Abenaxa  had  received  this  mes- 
sage he  made  speed  to  come,  and  as  many  Castles  as  were  upon 
his  road  submitted  unto  him.  When  the  Alcayde  of  Denia  heard 
of  his  coming  and  that  all  these  Castles  had  submitted,  he  durst 
not  abide  there,  but  fled  to  Xativa ;  and  Ali  Abenaxa  took  posses- 
sion of  Denia,  and  he  sent  his  Alcayde  to  Algezira  de  Xucar,  and 
took  possession  of  that  also.  When  these  tidings  came  to  Valencia, 
the  Bishop  who  was  there,  and  the  forty  knights  who  were  with  the 
messenger  of  the  King  of  Arragon  because  of  the  friendship  be- 
tween their  King  and  the  Cid,  and  all  the  other  Christians  who 
were  in  the  city,  would  no  longer  abide  there,  but  took  of  their 
goods  each  as  much  as  he  could,  and  went  away  in  fear.  And  the 
Guazil  was  greatly  dismayed,  neither  knew  he  what  course  to  take, 
and  Yahia  the  King,  though  he  was  now  healed  of  his  malady, 


322  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

neither  mounted  on  horseback,  nor  appeared  abroad.  Abenalfarax 
went  unto  him  and  told  him  the  peril  in  which  they  stood.  And 
their  counsel  was,  that  they  should  remove  all  that  they  had  from 
Valencia  and  go  to  the  Castle  of  Segorbe.  Then  they  sent  away 
many  beasts  laden  with  goods  and  with  riches,  under  the  care  of  a 
nephew  of  the  Guazil  and  many  others,  to  the  Castle  of  Benaecab, 
that  is  to  say,  the  Castle  of  the  Eagle,  to  be  in  charge  of  the  Al- 
cayde  thereof.  And  the  King  and  the  Guazil  bestirred  themselves 
and  gathered  together  foot  soldiers  and  crossbow  men  to  defend 
the  Alcazar,  and  sent  speedily  to  Zaragoza,  telling  the  Cid  to 
come ;  but  he  could  not  set  forth  so  speedily  as  need  was :  and 
the  stir  which  was  in  the  city  endured  for  full  twenty  clays.  Then 
that  Alcayde  of  AH  Abenaxa,  who  was  in  Algezira  de  Xucar  set 
forward  in  the  first  of  the  night  with  twenty  horsemen  of  the  Al- 
moravides,  and  as  many  more  of  Algezira,  all  clad  alike  in  green, 
that  they  might  all  be  taken  for  Almoravides  ;  and  they  came  by 
daybreak  to  Valencia  to  the  gate  of  Tudela,  and  sounded  their 
drums,  and  the  rumour  in  the  town  was  that  there  were  full  fi\v 
hundred  knights  of  the  Almoravides,  and  the  Guazil  was  in  great 
fear.  And  he  went  to  the  Alcazar  to  take  counsel  with  the  King, 
and  they  gave  order  that  the  gates  of  the  town  should  be  barred, 
and  that  the  walls  should  be  manned. 

XXVI.  Then  the  King's  soldiers  went  to  the  house  of  Abeniaf 
the  Alcayde  who  had  sent  for  the  Almoravides,  and  called  unto 
him  to  come  forth  that  they  might  take  him  before  the  King  ;  but 
he  was  trembling  in  great  fear,  and  would  not  come  out.     And  the 
men  of  the  town  came  to  his  help,  and  when  he  saw  the  company 
that  were  on  his  side,  he  came  forth  and  went  with  them  to  the 
Alcazar,  and  entered  it  and  took  the  Guazil  of  the  Cid.     And  the 
townsmen  ran  to  the  gates  and  drove  away  those  of  the  King's 
party  who  guarded  them ;  and  they  strove  to  beat  the  gates  down, 
but  they  could  not,  and  they  set  fire  to  them  and  burnt  them. 
And  others  let  down  ropes  from  the  walls,  and  drew  up  the  Almo- 
ravides.    King  Yahia  put  on  woman's  apparel,  and  fled  with  his 
women,  and  hid  himself  in  a  dwelling  near  unto  a  bath.     And  the 
Almoravides  took  possession  of  the  Alcazar,  and  plundered  it. 
One  Christian  they  slew  who  guarded  the  gates,  and  another  who 
was  of  St.  Maria  de  Albarrazin,  who  guarded  one  of  the  towers 
of  the  wall.     In  this  manner  was  Valencia  lost. 

XXVII.  Now  when  Abeniaf  saw  that  all  the  people  were  on  his 
side,  and  obeyed  him,  his  heart  grew  and  he  was  puffed  up,  inso- 
much that  he  despised  those  who  were  as  good  as  himself  or  better. 


koDRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  323 

Albeit  he  was  of  good  parentage,  for  his  fathers  before  him  had  all 
been  Alcaydes  ever  since  Valencia  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Moors. 
And  because  he  knew  that  the  King  had  not  fled  out  of  the  town, 
he  made  search  for  him,  and  found  him  in  the  house  where  he  had 
hidden  himself  with  his  women.  Now  the  King  when  he  fled  from 
the  Alcazar  had  taken  with  him  the  best  of  his  treasures,  pearls, 
among  which  was  one  the  most  precious  and  noble  that  could 
be,  so  that  nowhere  was  there  a  better  one  to  be  found,  nor  so 
good ;  and  precious  stones,  sapphires  and  rubies  and  emeralds ;  he 
had  with  him  a  casket  of  pure  gold  full  of  these  things  ;  and  in  his 
girdle  he  had  hidden  a  string  of  precious  stones  and  of  pearls,  such 
that  no  King  had  so  rich  and  precious  a  thing  as  that  carkanet. 
They  say  that  in  former  times  it  had  belonged  to  Queen  Seleyda, 
who  was  wife  to  Abanarrexit  King  of  Belcab,  which  is  beyond  sea ; 
and  afterwards  it  had  come  to  the  Kings  called  Benivoyas,  who 
were  Lords  of  Andalusia ;  after  that  King  Alimaymon  of  Toledo 
possessed  it,  and  gave  it  to  his  wife,  and  she  gave  it  to  the  wife  of 
her  son,  who  was  the  mother  of  this  Yahia.  Greatly  did  Abeniaf 
covet  these  treasures  and  this  carkanet,  and  incontinently  he 
thought  in  his  heart  that  he  might  take  them  and  none  know 
thereof,  which  could  no  ways  be  done  unless  he  slew  King  Yahia. 
When  therefore  it  was  night  he  gave  order  to  cut  off  his  head,  and 
to  throw  it  into  a  pond  near  the  house  in  which  he  had  been  taken. 
This  was  done  accordingly,  and  Abeniaf  took  the  treasures,  and 
they  who  were  set  over  King  Yahia  to  guard  him  and  murder  him, 
took  also  each  what  he  could,  and  concealed  it.  And  the  body 
lay  where  it  had  been  slain  till  the  following  day  ;  but  then  a  good 
man  who  grieved  for  the  death  of  his  Lord  took  it  up,  and  laid  it 
upon  the  cords  of  a  bed,  and  covered  it  with  an  old  horsecloth, 
and  carried  it  out  of  the  town,  and  made  a  grave  for  it  in  a  place 
where  camels  were  wont  to  lie,  and  buried  it  there,  without  grave- 
clothes  and  without  any  honours  whatsoever,  as  if  the  corpse  had 
been  the  corpse  of  a  villein. 


324  CHRONICLE    OF  THE   CID, 


BOOK   VI. 

I.  WHEN  Abeniaf  had  slain  his  Lord,  as  you  have  heard,  he 
became  haughty  like  a  King,  and  gave  no  thought  to  anything 
save  to  building  his  own  houses,  and  setting  guards  round  about 
them  by  day  and  by  night;   and  he  appointed  secretaries  who 
should  write  his  secret  letters,  and  chose  out  a  body  from  among 
the  good  men  of  the  city  to  be  his  guard.     And  when  he  rode  out 
he  took  with  him  many  knights  and  huntsmen,  all  armed,  who 
guarded  him  like  a  King ;  and  when  he  went  through  the  streets 
the  women  came  out  to  gaze  at  him,  and  shouted  and  rejoiced  in 
him ;   and  he  being  elated   and   puffed   up  with  these  vanities, 
demeaned  himself  in  all  things  after  the  manner  of  a  King.     This 
he  did  for  the  sake  of  abasing  a  certain  kinsman  of  his,  who  was 
chief  Alcayde,  and  who  was  better  and  wiser  than  he.     Moreover 
he  made  no  account  of  the  Alcayde  of  the  Almoravides  who  held 
the  Alcazar,  neither  took  counsel  with  him  concerning  anything, 
and  he  gave  no  heed  to  him  except  to  supply  him  and  his  com- 
pany with  their  charges,  which  he  did  right  sparingly. 

II.  But  when  King  Yahia  was  slain,  his  servants  and  eunuchs 
and  they  of  his  household  fled  to  Juballa,  a  Castle  which  was  held 
by  a  kinsman  of  the  Guazil  Abenalfarax,  who  lay  in  prison  ;  other 
some  fled  to  Zaragoza,  and  told  the  Cid  all  that  had  befallen.    The 
Cid  was  greatly  grieved  when  he  heard  it,  and  without  delay  he 
set  forth  with  all  his  people,  and  went  as  fast  as  he  could  go  to 
Juballa,  and  there  they  who  had  escaped  from  Valencia  met  him, 
and  besought  him  to  help  them  to  revenge  the  death  of  their  Lord, 
saying  that  they  would  follow  him  for  life  or  for  death,  and  do 
whatsoever  he  commanded  them.     Then  the  Cid  sent  letters  to 
Abeniaf,  saying  disdainfully  unto  him,  that  by  God's  help  he  had 
kept  his  Lent  well,  and  accomplished  his  fast  with  a  worthy  sacri- 
fice by  murdering  the  King  his  master  !  and  he  reproached  him 
for  the  shame  he  had  done  the  King  in  casting  his  head  into  the 
pond  and  letting  the  body  be  buried  in  a  dunghill ;  and  at  the  end 
of  the  letter  he  bade  Abeniaf  give  him  his  corn  which  he  had  left 
in  his  granaries  at  Valencia.     Abeniaf  returned  for  answer  that  his 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  325 

granaries  had  all  been  plundered,  and  that  the  city  now  belonged 
to  the  King  of  the  Almoravides ;  and  he  said  that  if  the  Cid  would 
serve  that  King  he  would  do  his  best  to  help  him  that  he  might 
win  his  love.  When  the  Cid  read  this  letter  he  saw  that  Abeniat 
was  a  fool,  for  he  had  sent  to  reproach  him  for  the  death  of  his 
Lord,  and  the  answer  which  he  had  returned  was  concerning 
another  matter ;  and  he  then  knew  that  Abeniaf  was  not  a  man  to 
keep  the  power  which  he  coveted.  So  he  sent  other  letters  to 
him,  calling  him  and  all  who  were  with  him  traitors,  and  saying 
that  he  would  never  leave  from  making  war  against  them  till  he  had 
taken  vengeance  for  the  death  of  King  Yahia. 

III.  And  the  Cid  sent  letters  to  all  the  Castles  round  about, 
bidding  them  supply  his  host  with  victuals,  and  do  it  speedily,  or 
he  would  do  all  he  could  to  destroy  them.     And  there  was  none 
to  gainsay  him  :  and  all  obeyed  his  commands  in  this  matter,  sav- 
ing Aboeza  Abenlupo,  for  he  was  a  discreet  man,  and  perceived 
what  was  to  come,  and  in  what  this  was  to  end  :    moreover  he 
feared  that  if  he  should  not  do  as  the  Cid  commanded,  the  Cid 
would  put  him  out  of  the  world,  and  no  one  would  be  able  to  pro- 
tect him ;  and  if  he  should  do  it,  then  he  feared  least  he  should 
be  banished.     So  he  sent  to  the  Cid  to  say  he  would  do  his  pleas- 
ure, and  he  sent  also  to  Abenrazin,  the  Lord  of  Albarrazin,  saying 
that  he  would  give  him  Monviedro  and  the  other  Castles  in  his 
possession,  and  bidding  him  make  his  terms  with  the  Cid,  for  as 
touching  himself,  he  desired  to  have  no  dispute,  but  to  come  off 
with  his  company  and  his  own  person  in  peace.     When  Abenrazin 
heard  this  he  was  well  pleased ;  and  he  went  to  Monviedro  with 
all  speed,  and  took  possession  of  the  Castle.     From  the  time  that 
King  Yahia  was  slain  till  this  time,  was  twenty  and  six  days.     And 
when  Abenrazin  had  got  possession  of  the  Castle  of  Monviedro  he 
came  to  the  Cid,  and  established  love  with  him,  and  made  a  cov- 
enant that  there  should  be  buying  and  selling  between  his  castles 
and  the  host,  and  that  he  would  provide  food,  and  that  the  Cid 
should  not  make  war  upon  him.     And  upon  this  they  made  their 
writings,  which  were  full  fast ;  and  Abenrazin  returned  to  his  own 
land,  and  left  one  to  keep  Monviedro  for  him ;   and   Abenlupo 
went  with  him,  taking  with  him  his  wives  and  his  children  and  his 
people  and  all  that  he  had,  and  he  thought  himself  well  off  that  he 
had  escaped  with  his  body,  for  he  desired  to  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  Cid.     And  the  Cid  lay  before  Juballa,  and  sent  out  to  his 
foragers  towards  Valencia  twice  a  day;    one  party  went  in  the 
morning,  and  another  towards  night ;  and  they  slew  many  Moors, 


326  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

and  made  many  prisoners,  and  made  prey  of  all  the  flocks  which 
they  found  without  the  walls ;  nevertheless  the  Cid  commanded 
that  no  hurt  should  be  done  to  those  of  the  land  of  Moya,  nor  to 
the  husbandmen,  but  that  they  who  laboured  to  produce  bread  and 
wine  should  be  protected  and  encouraged  ;  and  this  he  did  think- 
ing that  what  they  raised  would  be  for  him  when  he  should  lay 
siege  unto  the  town ;  and  he  said  this  to  his  knights  and  Adalides 
and  Almocadenes,  and  took  homage  of  them  that  he  should  obey 
him  therein.  All  this  time  the  Cid  held  that  Castle  besieged,  so 
that  none  could  enter  in  nor  come  out  thereof;  and  it  is  said  that 
terms  had  secretly  been  made  with  him  to  yield  it  up,  but  that  it 
was  so  to  be  done  that  the  other  Moors  might  believe  they  had 
yielded  from  great  necessity,  for  it  was  not  stored  so  as  to  be  able 
to  hold  out  long.  And  while  the  Cid  lay  before  Juballa,  all  the 
spoil  which  his  Almogavares  took  they  brought  to  the  host,  and 
from  the  host  it  was  taken  and  sold  at  Monviedro.  Many  laden 
beasts  came  every  day,  and  there  was  plenty  in  the  host. 

IV.  Abeniaf  gathered  together  the  knights  who  were  natives  of 
the  city  and  vassals  to  the  King  whom  he  had  slain,  and  sent  for 
others  who  were  in  Denia,  so  that  in  all  they  were  three  hundred 
knights,  and  maintained  them  with  the  bread  which  was  in  the 
granaries  of  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  and  with  the  rents  and  possessions 
of  those  who  had  been  the  King's  officers,  and  who  were  gone 
from  Valencia,  and  with  the  Customs ;  from  all  these  did  he  give 
these  knights  whatsoever  they  stood  in  need  of.  And  he  took  no 
counsel  with  the  Alcayde  of  the  Almoravides  concerning  anything 
which  he  did,  neither  with  any  one,  nor  did  he  care  a  jot  for  them. 
And  when  the  Alcayde  and  the  Almoravides  saw  that  he  made 
himself  master  in  the  city,  and  how  everything  that  he  did  was  by 
his  own  will,  they  were  offended  therewith.  The  sons  of  Aboegib 
were  offended  also  :  and  they  and  the  Almoravides  placed  their 
love  upon  each  other,  and  took  counsel  together  against  him,  and 
became  of  one  party,  and  they  bare  great  hatred  against  him,  and 
he  against  them.  All  this  while  the  Cid  lay  before  Juballa,  and 
every  day  he  scoured  the  country  to  the  gates  of  Valencia,  early 
in  the  morning,  and  at  noon  day,  and  at  night,  so  that  he  never 
let  them  rest.  And  the  three  hundred  knights  whom  Abeniaf  had 
collected  went  out  against  his  foragers,  with  the  men  of  the  town, 
and  the  Christians  slew  many  of  them,  so  that  there  were  lamen- 
tations daily  within  the  walls,  and  wailings  over  the  dead  that  were 
brought  in.  And  in  one  of  these  skirmishes,  a  rich  Moor  was  taken 
who  was  Alcayde  of  Acala,  which  is  near  Torralva,  and  they  gave 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  327 

him  grievous  torments  till  he  ransomed  himself  for  ten  thousand 
marks  of  silver;  and  moreover  he  gave  the  houses  which  he  had 
in  Valencia,  which  were  called  the  houses  of  Anaya,  to  be  theirs  if 
peradventure  the  town  should  be  yielded  up. 

V.  When  the  Cid  knew  that  there  was  great  hatred  between 
Abeniaf  and  the  Almoravides  and  the  sons  of  Aboegib,  he  devised 
means  how  to  set  farther  strife  between  them,  and  sent  privily  to 
proffer  his  love  to  Abeniaf  on  condition  that  they  should  expel  the 
Almoravides  out  of  the  town ;  saying,  that  if  he  did  this,  he  would 
remain  Lord  thereof,  and  the  Cid  would  help  him  in  this,  and  would 
be  good  to  him,  as  he  knew  he  had  been  to  the  King  of  Valencia, 
and  would  defend  him.  When  Abeniaf  heard  this  he  was  well  pleased, 
thinking  that  he  should  be  King  of  Valencia.   And  he  took  counsel 
with  Abenalfarax  the  Guazil  of  the  Cid,  whom  he  held  prisoner,  and 
Abenalfarax,  with  the  hope  of  getting  out  of  prison,  counselled  him 
to  do  thus,  and  to  accept  the  love  of  the  Cid.    Then  sent  he  to 
the  Cid,  saying  that  he  would  do  all  which  he  commanded  to  gain 
his  love,  and  he  began  to  stop  the  allowance  of  the  Almoravides, 
saying  that  he  could  give  them  nothing,  for  he  had  nothing  where- 
of to  give ;  this  did  he  to  the  end  that  they  might  go  their  way,  for 
he  lacked  not  means. 

VI.  At  this  time  Ali  Abenaxa,  the  Alcayde  who  was  in  Denia,  sent 
to  Abeniaf,  saying  unto  him  that  he  should  send  of  that  treasure, 
and  of  those  jewels  which  he  had  taken  from  King  Yahia,  to  the 
Miramamolin  beyond  sea ;  with  the  which  he  would  gather  together 
a  great  power,  and  cross  the  sea,  arid  come  against  the  Cid,  to  help 
the  people  of  Valencia,  and  protect  them  against  the  Cid,  who  did 
so  much  evil  to  them  all.    And  Abeniaf  took  counsel  with  the  men 
of  Valencia  concerning  this  matter,  whether  he  should  send  this  to 
the  Miramamolin  beyond  sea  or  not.     And  the  old  men  advised 
him  that  he  should,  and  the  others  that  he  should  not.     And  Abe- 
niaf took  the  treasures,  and  hid  the  best  part  thereof  for  himself, 
for  none  knew  what  it  was  ;  and  the  rest  he  sent  by  his  messengers, 
Abenalfarax  the  Guazil  of  the  Cid  being  one  ;  and  they  took  their 
departure  from  Valencia  with  great  secrecy,  least  the  Cid  should 
know  it  and  overtake  them  upon  the  road.   But  Abenalfarax  devised 
means  to  let  the  Cid  know,  and  sent  him  a  messenger.     And  the 
Cid  sent  horsemen  to  follow  their  track,  who  caught  them,  and 
took  the  treasure,  and  brought  it  to  the  Cid.    Greatly  did  he  thank 
Abenalfarax  for  having  served  him  so  well  at  that  season,  and  put- 
ting the  treasure  into  his  hands,  and  he  promised  him  goodly  guer- 
don ;  and  he  made  him  chief  over  all  the  Moors  who  were  his  sub* 


328  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

jects.  At  this  time  the  Alcayde  of  Juballa  yielded  up  the  Castle  to 
the  Cid,  and  the  Cid  placed  another  therein,  and  went  up  with  his 
host  against  Valencia,  and  encamped  in  a  village  which  is  called 
Deroncada.  And  as  the  seed  time  was  now  over,  he  burnt  all  the 
villages  round  about,  and  wasted  all  that  belonged  to  Abeniaf  and 
his  lineage,  and  he  burnt  the  mills,  and  the  barks  which  were  in 
the  river.  And  he  ordered  the  corn  to  be  cut,  for  it  was  now  the 
season,  and  he  beset  the  city  on  all  sides,  and  pulled  down  the 
houses  and  towers  which  were  round  about,  and  the  stone  and 
wood  thereof  he  sent  to  Juballa,  to  make  a  town  there  beside  the 
Castle. 

VII.  At  this  time  there  came  the  Guazil  of  the  King  of  Zaragoza 
to  the  host  of  the  Cid,  bringing  with  him  great  treasures  which  the 
King  had  sent  for  the  redemption  of  the  captives,  for  ruth  which 
he  had  of  them,  and  also  that  he  might  have  his  reward  from  God 
in  the  other  world.  He  came  also  to  talk  with  Abeniaf  and  coun- 
sel him  that  he  should  give  up  the  city  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza, 
and  they  would  send  away  the  Almoravides,  and  the  King  would 
protect  him ;  but  Abeniaf  would  give  no  ear  to  this,  and  the  Guazil 
said  unto  him  that  he  would  repent  not  having  taken  this  advice. 
On  the  second  day  after  this  Guazil  had  arrived,  the  Cid  attacked 
the  suburb  which  is  called  Villa  Nueva,  and  entered  it  by  force, 
and  slew  many  Moors,  both  men  of  Andalusia  and  Almoravides, 
and  plundered  all  that  they  found,  and  pulled  down  the  houses, 
and  the  wood  and  stone  the  Cid  sent  to  Juballa,  and  he  set  a  guard 
there  that  the  Moors  might  not  recover  the  place.  On  the  morrow 
the  Cid  attacked  another  suburb,  which  is  called  Alcudia,  and  there 
were  a  great  body  of  the  Moors  gathered  together  there.  And  he 
sent  a  part  of  his  host  against  the  gate  of  Alcantara,  bidding  them 
attack  the  gate,  while  he  fought  against  them  in  Alcudia ;  and  he 
thought  that  by  God's  mercy  peradventure  he  should  enter  the 
town.  And  the  Cid  with  his  company  rode  among  that  great  mul- 
titude of  the  Moors,  smiting  and  slaying  without  mercy,  and  the 
Cid's  horse  trampled  over  the  dead,  and  stumbled  among  them 
and  fell,  and  the  Cid  remained  afoot.  Howbeit  they  brought  him 
to  horse  again,  and  he  continued  smiting  and  laying  on  strenuously, 
so  that  the  Moors  were  amazed  at  the  great  mortality  which  he 
made  among  them,  and  maugre  all  they  could  do,  were  fain  to  fly 
into  the  town.  And  they  whom  he  had  sent  against  the  gate  of 
Alcantara,  attacked  it  so  bravely  that  they  would  have  entered  the 
city,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  boys  and  the  women  who  were  upon 
the  wall  and  in  the  towers,  and  threw  down  stones  upon  them, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  329 

And  this  while  the  cry  went  forth  in  the  city,  and  many  horsemen 
sallied  forth  and  fought  with  the  Christians  before  the  bridge,  and 
the  battle  lasted  from  morning  until  mid-day,  and  when  they  sepa- 
rated, the  Cid  returned  to  his  camp.  And  when  the  Cid  had 
taken  food,  he  returned  after  the  siesta  to  attack  the  suburb  of  Al- 
cudia ;  and  this  attack  was  so  vigorous  that  they  who  dwelt  therein 
thought  the  place  would  be  forced,  and  they  began  to  cry  out, 
Peace  !  peace  !  being  in  great  fear.  Then  the  Cid  bade  his  men  give 
over  the  attack,  and  the  good  men  of  the  suburb  came  out  to  him, 
and  whatsoever  terms  of  security  they  asked,  he  granted  them ; 
and  he  took  possession  of  the  suburb  that  night,  and  set  his  guards 
therein ;  and  he  commanded  his  people  that  they  should  do  no 
wrong  to  them  of  Alcudia,  and  if  any  one  offended  he  said  that  his 
head  should  be  smitten  off :  so  he  returned  that  night  to  the  camp. 
And  on  the  morrow  he  came  there,  and  assembled  together  the 
Moors  of  that  place,  and  comforted  them  much  with  his  speeches, 
and  promised  that  he  would  favour  them  greatly  and  not  oppress 
them,  and  bade  them  till  their  fields  and  tend  their  flocks  securely, 
saying  that  he  would  take  only  a  tenth  of  the  fruit  thereof,  as  their 
law  directed.  And  he  placed  a  Moor  there  named  Yucef,  to  be 
his  Almoxarife,  that  is  to  say,  his  Receiver.  And  he  gave  orders 
that  all  Moors  who  would  come  and  dwell  therein  might  come 
securely,  and  they  also  who  would  bring  food  thither  for  sale,  and 
other  merchandize.  So  much  food  and  much  merchandize  were 
brought  there  from  all  parts,  and  that  suburb  became  like  a  city, 
and  there  was  plenty  therein. 

VIII.  Now  when  the  Cid  Ruydiez  had  gotten  possession  of  the 
suburbs,  he  cut  off  from  Valencia  both  the  ingress  and  the  egress, 
and  they  of  the  town  were  greatly  straitened,  and  knew  not  what 
they  should  do,  and  they  repented  them  that  they  had  not  listened 
to  what  the  King  of  Zaragoza  sent  to  counsel  them,  for  they  had 
none  to  help  them ;  and  the  Amoravides  were  in  the  like  strait, 
for  they  had  none  to  look  to,  and  the  pay  which  they  were  wont 
to  receive  failed,  both  to  them  and  to  the  other  knights.  All  this 
time  Abeniaf  secretly  continued  his  love  with  the  Cid,  for  he  had 
not  departed  from  the  promise  which  he  had  made  him  to  send 
away  the  Almoravides,  and  put  himself  under  his  protection.  And 
they  took  counsel  together  in  this  distress,  both  the  Almoravides 
and  the  men  of  the  town,  how  they  might  obtain  the  love  of  the 
Cid,  in  whatever  manner  they  could,  so  that  they  might  remain  in 
peace  in  the  city  till  they  had  sent  to  the  Miramamolin  beyond 
sea,  and  received  his  commands ;  and  they  sent  to  the  Cid  to  say 


330  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

this.  But  he  made  answer  that  he  would  make  no  treaty  with 
them  till  they  had  sent  away  the  Almoravides.  And  they  of  the 
town  told  the  Almoravides  what  the  Cid  had  said,  and  these  Afri- 
cans were  well  pleased,  being  full  weary  of  that  place,  and  said 
that  they  would  go  their  way,  and  that  it  would  be  the  happiest 
day  of  their  lives,  that  wherein  they  should  depart.  So  they  made 
their  covenant  that  the  Almoravides  should  be  placed  in  safety, 
and  that  they  should  pay  the  Cid  for  all  the  corn  which  was  in  his 
granaries  at  the  time  when  King  Yahia  was  slain.  And  moreover 
the  thousand  maravedis  per  week  which  they  were  wont  to  pay 
him  should  be  paid  for  the  whole  time  which  they  had  been  in 
arms,  and  also  from  that  time  forth.  And  that  the  suburb  which 
he  had  won  should  be  his;  and  that  his  host  should  remain  in 
Juballa  so  long  as  they  continued  in  that  land.  And  upon  this 
they  made  their  writings,  and  confirmed  them.  And  the  Almora- 
vides departed  from  Valencia,  and  horsemen  were  sent  with  them, 
who  conducted  them  in  safety,  and  the  Moors  of  Valencia  were 
left  in  peace. 

IX.  Then  the  Cid  went  with  all  his  host  to  Juballa,  leaving  none 
but  such  as  were  to  collect  his  rents  with  his  Almoxarife.  And 
Abeniaf  cast  about  how  he  might  pay  the  Cid  for  the  corn,  and 
also  what  else  was  to  be  given  him.  And  he  made  terms  with 
those  who  held  the  Castles  round  about  Valencia,  that  they  should 
pay  him  the  tenth  of  all  their  fruits  and  of  all  their  other  rents. 
Now  this  was  the  season  for  gathering  in  the  fruit,  and  he  appointed 
men  in  every  place,  who  should  look  to  it,  and  see  it  valued,  and 
receive  the  tenth  ;  a  Moor  and  a  Christian  did  he  appoint  in  every 
place,  who  were  to  receive  this,  and  to  gather  the  corn  also  into 
the  granaries  :  and  this  was  done  after  such  manner  that  the  Cid 
had  his  tribute  well  paid.  At  this  time  came  tidings  to  Valencia, 
that  the  Almoravides  were  coming  again  with  a  great  power,  and 
the  Cid  devised  how  he  might  prevent  their  coming,  or  if  they 
came  how  he  might  fight  against  them.  And  he  sent  to  tell  Abe- 
niaf to  forbid  them  from  coming,  for  if  they  should  enter  the  town 
he  could  not  be  Lord  thereof,  which  it  was  better  he  should  be, 
and  the  Cid  would  protect  him  against  all  his  enemies.  Well  was 
Abeniaf  pleased  at  this :  and  he  held  a  talk  with  the  Alcayde  of 
Xativa,  and  with  him  who  held  the  Castle  of  Carchayra ;  and 
they  agreed  to  be  of  one  voice.  And  they  came  to  Valencia,  and 
the  Cid  came  to  his  suburb ;  and  they  confirmed  love  with  him  in 
great  secrecy.  But  he  who  had  the  Castle  of  Algezira  would  not 
be  in  this  covenant  with  them,  and  the  Ckl  sent  parties  into  his 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  33L 

lands,  and  did  him  much  evil ;  and  the  Alcayde  of  Juballa  went 
against  him,  and  cut  down  all  his  corn  and  brought  it  to  Juballa, 
which  the  Cid  had  made  a  great  town  with  a  church  and  with 
towers,  and  it  was  a  goodly  place  ;  and  there  he  had  his  corn 
and  his  other  things,  and  his  rents  were  all  brought  thither,  and  it 
abounded  with  all  things ;  and  men  held  it  for  a  great  marvel  that 
in  so  short  time  he  had  made  so  great  a  town,  which  was  so  rich 
and  so  plentiful.  And  the  Cid  thought  to  have  Valencia  if  the 
Almoravides  did  not  come,  and  for  this  reason  did  all  that  he 
could  to  prevent  their  coming. 

X.  At  this  time  Abenrazin  the  Lord  of  Albarrazin  covenanted 
with  the  King  of  Arragon  that  the  King  should  help  him  to  win 
Valencia,  and  he  would  give  him  great  treasures ;  and  he  gave 
him  in  pledge  a  Castle  which  is  called  Toalba.  And  in  this  which 
he  did  he  gained  nothing,  but  he  lost  the  Castle.  Now  this  Aben- 
razin had  made  covenant  with  the  Cid,  so  that  they  were  friends, 
and  the  Cid  had  never  done  hurt  in  his  lands.  And  when  he 
knew  this  that  he  had  done  with  the  King  of  Arragon  he  held 
himself  to  have  been  deceived  and  dealt  falsely  with ;  howbeit  he 
dissembled  this,  and  let  none  of  his  company  wit,  till  they  had 
gathered  in  all  the  corn  from  about  Algezira  de  Xucar,  and  carried 
it  to  Juballa.  When  this  was  done,  he  bade  his  men  make  ready, 
and  he  told  them  not  whither  they  were  to  go,  and  he  set  forward 
at  night  toward  Albarrazin,  and  came  to  the  Fountain.  Now  that 
land  was  in  peace,  and  the  dwellers  thereof  kept  neither  watch  nor 
ward  ;  and  his  foragers  slew  many,  and  made  many  prisoners,  and 
drove  great  flocks  and  herds,  sheep  and  kine,  and  brood  mares, 
and  prisoners  all  together,  and  they  carried  away  all  the  corn  ;  and 
they  sent  all  the  spoil  to  Juballa,  and  it  was  so  great  that  Valencia 
and  Juballa  and  all  their  dependencies  were  rich  with  cattle  and 
with  other  things.  While  the  Cid  lay  before  Albarrazin,  as  he  one 
day  rode  forth  with  five  of  his  knights  to  disport  himself,  there  came 
twelve  knights  out  of  the  town,  thinking  to  slay  him  or  take  him. 
And  he  pricked  forward  against  them,  and  encountered  them  so 
bravely  that  he  slew  twain,  and  other  twain  he  overthrew,  so  that 
they  were  taken,  and  the  rest  were  put  to  flight :  but  he  remained 
with  a  wound  in  his  throat  from  the  push  of  a  spear,  and  they 
thought  he  would  have  died  of  that  wound  ;  and  it  was  three  weeks 
before  it  was  healed. 

XL  Now  came  true  tidings  to  Valencia  that  the  host  of  tlu- 
Almoravides  were  coming,  and  that  they  were  now  at  Lorca,  and 
the  son-in-law  of  the  Mjramamolin  at  their  head,  for  he  himsell 


332  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

could  not  come,  by  reason  that  he  ailed.  They  of  Valencia 
took  courage  at  these  tidings,  and  waxed  insolent,  and  began  to 
devise  how  they  should  take  vengeance  upon  Abeniaf,  and  upon 
all  those  who  had  oppressed  them.  And  Abeniaf  was  in  great 
trouble  at  this  which  was  said  openly  concerning  him,  and  he  sent 
privily  to  the  Cid,  telling  him  to  come  as  soon  as  might  be.  The 
Cid  was  then  before  Albarrazin,  doing  all  the  evil  that  he  could, 
and  he  brake  up  his  camp  and  came  with  his  host  to  Juballa ;  and 
Abeniaf  and  the  Alcaydes  of  Xativa  and  Carchayra  came  unto 
him,  and  they  renewed  their  covenant  to  stand  by  each  other, 
and  be  of  one  voice.  And  they  took  counsel  and  made  a  letter 
for  the  leader  of  the  army  of  the  Almoravides,  wherein  they  told 
him  that  the  Cid  had  made  a  treaty  with  the  King  of  Arragon, 
whereby  the  King  bound  himself  to  help  him  against  them ;  and 
they  bade  him  beware  how  he  came  towards  Valencia,  unless 
he  chose  to  do  battle  with  eight  thousand  Christian  horsemen, 
covered  with  iron,  and  the  best  warriors  in  the  world.  This  did 
they  thinking  that  he  would  be  dismayed  and  turn  back  :  but  the 
Moor  did  not  cease  to  advance,  notwithstanding  this  letter. 

XII.  There  was  a  garden  nigh  unto  Valencia  which  had  be- 
longed to  Abenalhazis,  and  the  Cid  asked  Abeniaf  to  give  it  him, 
that  he  might  take  his  pleasure  there  when  he  was  disposed  to 
solace  himself.  This  he  did  cunningly,  that  when  the  Almoravides 
heard  how  this  garden  had  been  given  him  which  was  so  nigh  unto 
the  city,  they  should  ween  that  the  men  of  Valencia  had  given  it, 
and  that  they  were  better  pleased  with  his  company  than  with  theirs. 
Abeniaf  granted  it.  And  the  Cid  was  wary,  and  would  not  enter  it 
till  a  gateway  had  been  opened  into  the  garden,  for  the  entrance 
was  through  narrow  streets,  and  the  Cid  would  not  trust  himself  in 
those  strait  places  :  so  Abeniaf  ordered  the  gate  to  be  made,  and 
told  the  Cid  that  he  would  be  his  host  on  a  day  appointed.  And 
Abeniaf  bedecked  the  gate  of  this  garden  full  richly,  and  spread 
costly  carpets,  and  ordered  the  way  to  be  strewn  with  rushes,  and 
made  a  great  feast,  and  expected  him  all  the  day,  but  he  did  not 
come.  And  when  it  was  night  he  sent  to  say  that  he  was  sick  and 
could  not  come  :  and  he  prayed  him  to  hold  him  excused.  This 
he  did  to  see  whether  they  of  Valencia  would  murmur  against 
him.  And  the  sons  of  Aboegib  and  all  the  people  murmured 
greatly,  and  would  fain  in  their  hearts  have  risen  again  Abeniaf, 
but  they  durst  not  because  of  the  Cid,  with  whom  they  would  not 
fall  out  lest  he  should  lay  waste  all  that  was  without  the  walls. 
And  they  looked  daily  for  the  Almoravides,  and  one  day  they  said, 


RODKICO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  333 

Lo  !  now  they  are  coming :  and  on  the  morrow  they  said,  They 
are  coming  not.  And  in  this  manner  some  days  passed  on.  And 
the  murmur  which  there  had  been  concerning  the  garden  died 
away ;  and  then  the  Cid  entered  it,  and  took  possession  of  the 
whole  suburb  of  Alcudia  round  about  it :  and  this  he  did  peace- 
ably, for  the  Moors  and  Christians  dwelt  there  together. 

XIII.  Now  came  true  tidings  that  the  host  of  the  Almoravides, 
which  was  at  Lorca,  was  coming  on  through  Murcia,  and  that  the 
tarriance  which  they  had  made  had  been  by  reason  of  their  Cap- 
tain, who  had  fallen  sick,  but  he  was  now  healed,  and  they  were 
advancing  fast.     And  the  sons  of  Aboegib  and  great  part  of  the 
people  rejoiced  in  these  tidings,  and  took  heart :  and  Abeniaf  was 
in  great  fear,  and  he  began  to  excuse  himself  to  the  men  of  the 
town,  and  said  unto  them  to  pacify  them,  that  they  did  him  wrong 
to  complain  of  him  for  the  garden  which  the  Cid  had  asked  of 
him,  inasmuch  as  he  had  only  given  it  him  to  disport  himself 
therein  for  some  days  and  take  his  pleasure,  and  that  he  would 
make  him  leave  it  again  whenever  it  should  please  them.    Moreover 
he  said,  that  seeing  they  were  displeased  with  what  he  had  done, 
he  would  take  no  farther  trouble  upon  him ;   but  would  send  to 
break  off  his  covenant  with  the  Cid,  and  send  to  bid  him  look  out 
for  others  to  collect  his  payments,  for  he  would  have  the  charge  no 
longer.    This  he  said  in  his  cunning,  thinking  that  he  should  pacify 
them  ;  but  they  understood  his  heart,  and  they  cried  aloud  against 
him  that  they  would  not  stand  to  his  covenant,  nor  by  his  counsel, 
but  that  the  sons  of  Aboegib  should  counsel  them,  and  whatsoever 
they  should  think  good,  that  would  they  do.     And  they  gave  order 
to  fasten  the  gates  of  the  town,  and  to  keep  watch  upon  the  towers 
and  walls.    When  Abeniaf  saw  this  he  ceased  to  do  as  he  had  been 
wont  for  fear  of  the  people  and  of  the  sons  of  Aboegib,  and  took 
unto  himself  a  greater  company  to  be  his  guard.     And  the  war  was 
renewed  between  the  Cid  and  the  people  of  Valencia. 

XIV.  Now  came  true  tidings  that  the  host  of  the  Almoravides 
was  nigh  unto  Xativa ;  and  the  people  of  Valencia  were  glad  and 
rejoiced,  for  they  thought  that  they  were  now  delivered  from  their 
great  misery,  and  from  the  oppression  of  the  Cid.     And  when  he 
heard  these  tidings  he  left  the  garden  and  went  to  the  place  where 
his  host  was  encamped,  which  was  called  Xarosa,  and  remained 
there  in  his  tents,  and  he  was  at  a  stand  what  he  should  do,  whether 
to  abide  the  coming  of  the  Almoravides,  or  to  depart ;  howbeit  he 
resolved  to  abide  and  see  what  would  befall.     And  he  gave  order 
to  break  down  the  bridges  and  open  the  sluices,  that  the  plain 


334  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

might  be  flooded,  so  that  they  could  only  come  by  one  way,  which 
was  a  narrow  pass.  Tidings  now  came  that  the  host  of  the  Almora- 
vides  was  at  Algezira  de  Xucar,  and  the  joy  of  the  people  of  Valen- 
cia increased,  and  they  went  upon  the  walls  and  upon  the  towers 
to  see  them  come.  And  when  night  came  they  remained  still  upon 
the  walls,  for  it  was  dark,  and  they  saw  the  great  fires  of  the  camp 
of  the  Almoravides,  which  they  had  pitched  near  unto  a  place  called 
Bacer ;  and  they  began  to  pray  unto  God,  beseeching  him  to  give 
them  good  speed  against  the  Christians,  and  they  resolved  as  soon 
as  the  Almoravides  were  engaged  in  battle  with  the  Cid,  that  they 
would  issue  forth  and  plunder  his  tents.  But  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
was  not  pleased  that  it  should  be  so,  and  he  ordered  it  after  an- 
other guise ;  for  he  sent  such  a  rain  that  night,  with  such  a  wind 
and  flood  as  no  man  living  remembered,  and  when  it  was  day  the 
people  of  Valencia  looked  from  the  wall  to  see  the  banners  of  the 
Almoravides  and  the  place  where  they  had  encamped,  and  behold 
they  could  see  nothing :  and  they  were  full  sorrowful,  and  knew 
not  what  they  should  do,  and  they  remained  in  such  state  as  a 
woman  in  her  time  of  childing,  till  the  hour  of  tierce,  and  then 
came  tidings  that  the  Almoravides  had  turned  back,  and  would  not 
come  unto  Valencia.  For  the  rains  and  floods  had  dismayed  them, 
and  they  thought  the  waters  would  have  swept  them  away,  and 
that  the  hand  of  God  was  against  them,  and  therefore  they  turned 
back.  And  when  the  people  of  Valencia  heard  this  they  held 
themselves  for  dead  men,  and  they  wandered  about  the  streets  like 
drunkards,  so  that  a  man  knew  not  his  neighbour,  and  they  smeared 
their  faces  with  black  like  unto  pitch,  and  they  lost  all  thought 
like  one  who  falls  into  the  waves  of  the  sea.  And  then  the  Chris- 
tians drew  nigh  unto  the  walls,  crying  out  unto  the  Moors  with  a 
loud  voice  like  thunder,  calling  them  false  traitors  and  renegados, 
and  saying,  Give  up  the  town  to  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  for  ye  cannot 
escape  from  him.  And  the  Moors  were  silent,  and  made  no  reply 
because  of  their  great  misery. 

XV.  Then  Abenalfarax,  a  Moor  of  Valencia,  he  who  wrote  this 
history  in  Arabic,  took  account  of  the  food  which  was  in  the 
city,  to  see  how  long  it  could  hold  out.  And  he  says  that  the 
cafiz  of  wheat  was  valued  at  eleven  maravedis,  and  the  cafiz  of 
barley  at  seven  maravedis,  and  that  of  pulse  or  other  grain  at 
six ;  and  the  arroba  of  honey  at  fifteen  dineros ;  and  the  arroba 
of  carobs  the  third  of  a  maravedi,  and  the  arroba  of  onions 
two-thirds  of  a  maravedi,  and  the  arroba  of  cheese  two  mara- 
vedis  and  a  half,  and  the  measure  of  oil  which  the  Moors  call  ma- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BITAR.  335 

ran,  a  maravedi,  and  the  quintal  of  figs  five  maravedis,  and  the 
pound  of  mutton  six  dineros  of  silver,  and  the  pound  of  beef  four. 
These  maravedis  were  silver  ones,  for  no  other  money  was  current 
among  them.  The  Moors  who  dwelt  in  the  suburbs  carried  all  the 
best  of  their  goods  into  the  city,  and  the  rest  they  buried.  And 
when  the  Cid  was  certain  that  the  Almoravides  were  not  coming, 
he  returned  again  to  lodge  in  the  garden,  and  gave  order  to  spoil 
the  suburbs,  save  that  of  Alcudia,  because  the  inhabitants  of  that 
had  received  him  without  resistance  :  and  the  Moors  fled  into  the 
city  with  their  wives  and  children.  And  when  the  Christians  be- 
gan to  plunder  the  suburbs  they  of  the  town  came  out  and  plun- 
dered also  those  houses  which  were  nearest  unto  the  walls,  so  that 
everything  was  carried  away  and  nothing  but  the  timbers  left :  and 
then  the  Christians  took  that  to  build  them  lodgments  in  the 
camp ;  and  when  the  Moors  saw  this  they  eame  out,  and  carried 
away  what  timber  they  could  into  the  city.  And  the  Christians 
pulled  down  all  the  houses,  save  only  such  as  could  be  defended 
with  arrows,  and  these  which  they  dared  not  pull  down  they  set 
fire  to  by  night.  And  when  all  the  houses  had  been  levelled  they 
began  to  dig  in  the  foundations,  and  they  found  great  wealth  there, 
and  store  of  garments,  and  hoards  of  wheat ;  and  when  the  Cid 
saw  this  he  ordered  them  to  dig  everywhere,  so  that  nothing  might 
be  lost.  And  when  all  had  been  dug  up  the  Cid  drew  nearer  to 
the  city,  and  girt  it  round  about,  and  there  was  fighting  every  day 
at  the  barriers,  for  the  Moors  came  out  and  fought  hand  to  hand, 
and  many  a  sword-stroke  was  given  and  many  a  push  with  the 
spear.  While  the  Moors  were  thus  beleaguered  came  letters  from 
the  Captain  of  the  Almoravides,  saying  that  he  had  not  turned 
back  to  Algezira  de  Xucar  for  fear,  nor  for  cowardice,  neither  as 
one  who  fled,  but  for  lack  of  food,  and  also  by  reason  of  the  waters  ; 
and  that  it  was  his  set  purpose  at  all  events  to  succour  them  and 
deliver  them  from  the  oppression  which  they  endured,  and  he  was 
preparing  to  do  this  with  all  diligence.  And  he  bade  them  take 
courage,  and  maintain  the  city.  And  when  the  Moors  of  Valencia 
heard  these  letters  they  took  heart,  and  joined  with  the  sons  of 
Aboegib,  and  their  resolve  was  that  they  would  be  firm  and  main- 
tain the  city.  And  they  said  that  Abeniaf  had  made  the  Almora- 
vides retreat,  because  he  had  told  them  that  there  was  discord  in 
the  town.  And  Abeniaf  kept  great  watch,  having  a  great  guard  to 
secure  him,  least  the  people  should  attempt  aught  against  him. 
And  the  price  of  all  things  in  Valencia  was  doubled. 

XVI.  Then  the  Cid  drew  nearer  to  the  walls,  so  that  no  man 


336  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

could  either  enter  in  or  issue  out,  but  whosoever  attempted  it  was 
either  slain  or  taken.  And  he  gave  orders  to  till  all  the  lands 
which  lay  round  about  Alcudia,  for  this  was  now  become  a  great 
place,  even  like  a  city,  and  the  Moors  who  dwelt  there  were  safe  ; 
and  tents  and  shops  were  made  there  for  all  kinds  of  merchandize, 
and  merchants  came  there  safely  from  all  parts  to  buy  and  to  sell, 
so  that  they  who  dwelt  there  were  greatly  enriched.  And  justice 
was  administered  to  all  full  righteously,  so  that  there  was  none 
who  could  complain  of  the  Cid  nor  of  his  Almoxarife,  nor  of  any 
of  his  people ;  and  the  Moors  were  judged  by  their  own  law,  and 
were  not  vexed,  and  he  took  from  them  only  a  tenth.  Now  came 
true  tidings  from  Denia  that  the  Almoravides  had  returned  into 
their  own  country,  and  that  there  was  no  hope  of  succour  at  their 
hands.  And  when  they  of  Valencia  heard  this  they  were  greatly 
troubled.  And  they  who  held  the  Castles  round  about  came  hum- 
bly to  the  Cid,  to  place  their  love  upon  him,  and  besought  him 
that  he  would  accept  tribute  from  them,  and  have  them  under  his 
protection ;  and  he  gave  orders  that  they  might  travel  the  roads  in 
peace :  and  in  this  manner  his  rents  increased,  so  that  he  had 
plenty  to  give.  And  he  sent  to  them  who  held  the  Castles,  bidding 
them  provide  him  with  cross-bow  men,  and  foot  soldiers,  to  fight 
against  the  city ;  and  there  was  none  who  dared  disobey  his  bid- 
ding, and  they  sent  him  cross-bow  men  and  foot-men  in  great 
numbers,  with  their  arms  and  provisions.  Thus  was  Valencia  left 
desolate,  and  forsaken  by  all  the  Moorish  people  ;  and  it  was 
attacked  every  day,  and  none  could  enter  in,  neither  could  any 
come  out ;  and  they  were  sore  distressed,  and  the  waves  of  death 
compassed  them  round  about. 

XVII.  Then  was  there  a  Moor  in  the  city  who  was  a  learned 
man  and  a  wise,  and  he  went  upon  the  highest  tower,  and  made  a 
lamentation,  and  the  words  with  which  he  lamented  he  put  in 
writing,  and  it  was  rendered  afterwards  from  the  Arabic  into  the 
Castilian  tongue,  and  the  lamentation  which  he  made  was  this  : 

Valencia  !  Valencia  !  trouble  is  come  upon  thee,  and  thou  art 
in  the  hour  of  death ;  and  if  peradventure  thou  shouldst  escape, 
it  will  be  a  wonder  to  all  that  shall  behold  thee. 

But  if  ever  God  hath  shown  mercy  to  any  place,  let  him  be 
pleased  to  show  mercy  unto  thee  ;  for  thy  name  was  joy,  and  all 
Moors  delighted  in  thee  and  took  their  pleasure  in  thee. 

And  if  it  should  please  God  utterly  to  destroy  thee  now,  it  will 
be  for  thy  great  sins,  and  for  the  great  presumption  which  thou 
hadst  in  thy  pride. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  337 

The  four  corner  stones  whereon  thou  art  founded  would  meet 
together  and  lament  for  thee,  if  they  could  ! 

Thy  strong  wall  which  is  founded  upon  these  four  stones  trem- 
bles, and  is  about  to  fall,  and  hath  lost  all  its  strength. 

Thy  lofty  and  fair  towers  which  were  seen  from  far,  and  rejoiced 
the  hearts  of  the  people,  .  .  .  little  by  little  they  are  falling. 

Thy  white  battlements  which  glittered  afar  off,  have  lost  their 
truth,  with  which  they  shone  like  the  sunbeams. 

Thy  noble  river  Guadalaver,  with  all  the  other  waters  with  which 
thou  hast  been  served  so  well,  have  left  their  channel,  and  now 
they  run  where  they  should  not. 

Thy  water  courses,  which  were  so  clear  and  of  such  great  profit 
to  so  many,  for  lack  of  cleansing  are  choked  with  mud. 

Thy  pleasant  gardens  which  were  round  about  thee ;  .  .  .  the 
ravenous  wolf  hath  gnawn  at  the  roots,  and  the  trees  can  yield  thee 
no  fruit. 

Thy  goodly  fields,  with  so  many  and  such  fair  flowers,  wherein 
thy  people  were  wont  to  take  their  pastime,  are  all  dried  up. 

Thy  noble  harbour,  which  was  so  great  honour  to  thee,  is  de- 
prived of  all  the  nobleness  which  was  wont  to  come  into  it  for  thy 
sake. 

The  fire  hath  laid  waste  the  lands  of  which  thou  wert  called  Mis- 
tress, and  the  great  smoke  thereof  reacheth  thee. 

There  is  no  medicine  for  thy  sore  infirmity,  and  the  physicians 
despair  of  healing  thee. 

Valencia  !  Valencia  !  from  a  broken  heart  have  I  uttered  all 
these  things  which  I  have  said  of  thee. 

And  this  grief  would  I  keep  unto  myself  that  none  should  know 
it,  if  it  were  not  needful  that  it  should  be  known  to  all. 

XVIII.  Now  all  the  trouble  and  distress  which  the  men  of  Va- 
lencia endured,  pleased  Abeniaf  well,  because  they  had  forsaken 
him  and  followed  the  sons  of  Aboegib ;  and  he  said  that  it  did  not 
behove  a  man  to  give  advice  unto  those  who  would  not  listen  to  it, 
and  that  if  the  people  had  hearkened  to  him  they  would  not  have 
been  brought  to  this  misery ;  and  what  evil  they  endured  was  be- 
cause of  the  sons  of  Aboegib,  who  lacked  wit  to  be  well  with  any 
one,  or  to  do  anything.  These  things  Abeniaf  said  daily  to  all 
who  came  to  visit  him  :  so  that  the  people  great  as  well  as  little 
began  to  talk  thereof,  saying  that  Abeniaf  spake  truly.  And  the 
Christians  fought  against  them  every  day,  and  pressed  them  close, 
and  the  price  of  food  increased  daily ;  and  they  withdrew  them- 
selves from  the  love  of  the  sons  of  Aboegib,  and  thought  that  they 


338  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   C/D, 

had  been  ill-advised  to  follow  their  counsel,  and  that  because  of 
them  all  this  evil  was  come  upon  them,  and  they  held  them  for 
fools.  And  the  people  cried  out  upon  Abeniaf  that  he  should  for- 
give them  for  having  forsaken  him,  and  that  he  should  protect 
them,  and  devise  means  for  their  deliverance  from  this  great 
trouble.  And  Abeniaf  said  that  he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with 
them  more  than  as  one  of  them;  for  if  they  were  in  trouble,  so 
was  he  :  and  what  they  stood  in  fear  of,  that  did  he  fear  also ;  and 
that  he  could  not  give  counsel  to  men  who  were  divided  among 
themselves ;  and  he  said  unto  them  that  they  must  agree  among 
themselves,  and  be  all  of  one  mind  to  do  one  of  these  two  things ; 
.  .  .  either  to  forsake  the  sons  of  Aboegib  and  their  counsel,  or  to 
stand  by  it.  And  when  he  should  see  that  they  no  longer  opposed 
him  with  their  evil  counsels  and  the  bad  way  in  which  they  were 
going  on,  that  he  would  then  take  counsel  for  them  in  such  guise 
that  they  should  be  at  peace ;  for  they  knew  how  they  had  sped 
so  long  as  they  let  him  direct  them,  and  he  trusted  in  God  so  to 
speed  as  that  they  should  have  no  war  with  the  Cid,  neither  with 
any  other.  And  they  made  answer  with  one  accord  that  they 
would  trust  in  him  and  obey  him,  and  do  all  which  he  should  com- 
mand, for  it  had  alway  been  well  with  them  when  they  followed 
his  advice. 

XIX.  Then  the  men  of  Valencia  made  Abeniaf  their  Adelan- 
tado,  and  promised  to  abide  by  his  counsel ;  howbeit  this  could 
not  lightly  be  done,  for  many  of  the  people  held  with  the  others. 
And  when  Abeniaf  saw  that  they  would  have  him  for  their  chief, 
he  said  that  they  should  make  a  writing,  and  the  chief  persons  of 
the  town  confirm  it  with  their  names ;  and  the  people  accorded 
that  it  should  be  so,  and  it  was  done  accordingly.  Then  he  made 
offers  to  the  Cid  that  they  should  pay  him  tribute,  and  took  coun- 
sel with  him  how  to  put  the  sons  of  Aboegib,  and  those  who  held 
with  them,  out  of  the  town ;  and  their  counsel  was,  that  the  Cid 
should  draw  nigh  to  the  walls,  and  speak  unto  the  men  of  the 
town,  saying,  that  so  long  as  they  followed  after  the  ways  of  the 
sons  of  Aboegib,  he  would  never  grant  them  his  love ;  and  all 
the  evil  which  he  did  unto  them  was  because  of  them,  and  l>ecause 
they  were  guided  by  them  and  by  their  evil  counsel.  And  if  they 
desired  to  speed  well  they  should  send  away  the  sons  of  Aboegib, 
and  take  Abeniaf  to  be  their  chief,  and  give  ear  unto  him.  And 
the  Cid  came  nigh  unto  the  walls  and  said  these  things,  and  more- 
over that  he  had  great  ruth  for  them,  for  he  loved  them  well ;  and 
if  they  would  do  according  to  his  words  he  would  help  them  and 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  339 

protect  them,  as  he  had  been  wont  to  do  in  the  days  of  King 
Yahia ;  and  he  bade  them  look  well  to  what  they  were  doing,  and 
not  suffer  themselves  to  be  brought  to  destruction.  And  Abeniaf 
also  said  these  things  to  those  of  his  household  and  to  all  those 
who  talked  with  him,  and  asked  of  them  why  they  would  let  them- 
selves be  brought  to  destruction  by  the  counsel  of  foolish  men  and 
unwise.  And  this  he  said  so  often  that  they  thought  it  was  truth, 
and  they  besought  him  that  as  he  was  their  Adelantado  now,  he 
would  devise  means  for  their  deliverance,  and  how  they  might  live 
in  peace  ;  and  he  made  answer  that  they  were  not  to  think  he  had 
forgotten  this,  for  he  had  laboured  greatly  with  the  Cid  to  obtain 
his  love  for  them,  but  the  Cid  had  sworn  that  they  should  never 
have  his  love  till  they  had  put  the  sons  of  Aboegib  out  of  the 
town  ;  when  they  had  done  that,  he  would  do  whatsoever  they 
should  think  good,  but  till  they  had  done  it  there  should  be  no 
covenant  between  him  and  them.  But  when  the  men  of  the  town 
heard  this  they  murmured  greatly,  and  said  that  he  demanded  a 
hard  thing,  and  that  it  were  better  they  should  all  die  than  do 
this  ;  and  they  talked  concerning  this  matter  three  days,  being  in 
doubt  what  they  should  do.  And  when  Abeniaf  saw  that  the  peo- 
ple were  thus  at  a  stand,  he  took  counsel  privily  with  the  Cid,  and 
with  the  knights,  and  the  good  men  who  were  on  his  side,  ho\v  lie 
might  take  them.  And  one  of  the  chief  persons  of  Abeniafs 
household  went  out  with  a  great  company  of  horse  and  foot  to 
seize  the  sons  of  Aboegib  ;  and,  they  when  they  knew  this,  took 
shelter  in  the  house  of  an  Alfaqui,  that  is  to  say,  one  learned  in 
the  law,  who  was  held  in  much  honour  by  the  Moors  ;  and  in 
this  house,  which  was  surrounded  with  an  embattled  wall,  they 
thought  with  the  little  company  that  they  had  with  them,  to  defend 
themselves,  till  the  cry  could  go  forth  through  the  city,  and  their 
friends  come  to  their  succour.  And  they  who  went  to  take  them 
set  fire  to  the  outer  gates,  and  many  of  the  baser  sort  gathered 
together  to  see  what  the  stir  was.  And  they  ascended  the  roof 
and  threw  down  tiles  upon  the  assailants  till  they  made  them  take 
shelter  under  the  eaves,  and  then  the  house  was  forced,  and  they 
plundered  all  that  they  could  find,  and  laid  hands  on  the  sons  of 
Aboegib  and  carried  them  to  prison.  All  this  was  done  before  the 
cry  could  go  forth  through  the  town ;  and  all  the  kinsmen  of  the 
sons  of  Aboegib  were  taken  also  :  they  were  kept  that  day  in 
prison,  and  when  it  was  night  they  were  taken  to  the  Cid,  to  his 
lodging  in  Alcudia,  and  delivered  into  his  hands. 

XX.    On  the  morrow  there  was  a  great  stir  among  the  men  of 


340  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

I 

the  town,  and  they  were  greatly  troubled  at  this  foul  thing  which 
Abeniaf  had  done.  But  Abeniaf  thinking  that  he  should  now  have 
his  desire,  and  that  all  was  done,  took  horse  and  rode  forth  with 
all  his  company  to  the  Bridge-end,  to  see  Ruydiez  the  Cid.  Anil 
the  Bishop,  as  he  was  called,  of  Albarrazin,  came  to  meet  him  with 
a  great  company  of  knights,  being  the  chiefs  of  the  company  of  the 
Cid,  and  they  did  great  honour  unto  him,  thinking  that  he  would 
give  them  something.  And  they  brought  him  to  the  lodging  of 
the  Cid,  which  was  in  the  Garden  of  the  new  town  ;  and  the  Cid 
came  out  to  meet  him  at  the  garden  gate,  and  embraced  him,  and 
made  much  of  him.  And  the  first  thing  which  he  said,  was,  to 
ask  him  why  he  had  not  put  on  kingly  garments,  for  King  he  was  : 
and  he  bade  him  take  off  the  coif  which  he  wore,  for  it  was  not 
what  beseemed  him  now,  and  made  semblance  as  if  he  would 
have  held  his  stirrups.  And  they  stood  talking  awhile.  Now  the 
Cid  thought  that  Abeniaf  would  not  come  to  him  with  empty 
hands,  and  looked  that  he  should  give  him  of  the  treasures  and 
jewels  that  he  had  taken  from  King  Yahia  whom  he  had  slain  ; 
but  when  he  saw  that  he  brought  nothing,  then  began  the  Cid  to 
talk  of  terms,  and  said  unto  him  that  if  he  desired  to  have  his  love, 
and  that  there  should  be  peace  between  them,  he  must  divide  with 
him  the  rents  of  the  town,  as  well  what  was  collected  within  as 
without,  and  that  he  would  have  his  own  Almoxarife  to  see  to  this 
and  collect  his  share.  And  Abeniaf  made  answer  that  it  should  be 
so.  And  the  Cid  demanded  of  him  his  son  as  hostage,  that  he 
might  keep  him  in  Juballa,  for  otherwise  he  said  he  could  not  be 
secure.  And  Abeniaf  agreed  to  this  also  ;  so  they  parted  for  that 
day,  having  appointed  that  they  should  meet  on  the  morrow,  and 
confirm  this  covenant  by  writings  so  that  it  should  be  good.  Then 
Abeniaf  returned  into  the  city  full  sorrowful  and  taking  great 
thought ;  and  then  he  saw  the  foolishness  that  he  had  done  in 
sending  away  the  Almoravides  out  of  the  land,  and  in  putting  his 
trust  in  men  of  another  law.  And  on  the  morrow  the  Cid  sent 
for  him  that  he  should  come  out  and  confirm  the  covenant ;  but 
Abeniaf  sent  him  word  that  he  would  not  give  him  his  son,  even 
though  he  knew  he  should  lose  his  head  for  refusing.  And  the 
Cid  sent  him  a  letter  with  great  threats,  saying,  that  since  he  had 
thus  deceived  him,  there  should  never  more  be  love  between  them, 
nor  would  he  ever  believe  aught  which  he  should  say.  And  then 
the  hatred  between  them  waxed  very  great.  And  the  Cid  sent 
unto  that  Moor  who  had  taken  the  sons  of  Aboegib  and  bade  him 
leave  the  town,  and  go  unto  the  Castle  which  was  called  Alcala ; 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BITAR.  341 

and  he  obeyed  and  went  thither,  for  he  dared  not  do  otherwise 
than  as  the  Cid  commanded.  And  he  did  great  honours  to  the 
sons  of  Aboegib  and  to  their  kinsmen,  and  gave  orders  that  they 
should  be  provided  with  all  things  which  they  needed,  and  gave 
them  garments,  and  promised  that  he  would  be  their  great  friend. 
At  this  time  three  good  men  of  Valencia  died,  who  were  the  most 
honourable  of  the  town  and  of  the  most  discretion,  and  Abeniaf 
was  left  as  Chief,  for  there  was  none  to  gainsay  him. 

XXI.  And  the  Cid  made  war  afresh  upon  the  city  as  cruelly  as 
he  could,  and  the  price  of  bread  was  now  three  times  as  great  as 
it  had  been  at  the  beginning;  the  load  of  wheat  was  worth  an 
hundred  maravedis  of  silver,  and  the  pound  of  flesh  was  a  mararcili. 
And  the  Cid  drew  nigh  unto  the  walls,  so  as  to  fight  hand  to  hand 
with  the  townsmen.     And  Abeniaf  waxed  proud  and  despised  the 
people,  and  when  any  went  to  make  complaint  before  him,  and 
ask  justice  at  his  hands,  he  dishonoured  them,  and  they  were  evil 
entreated  by  him.     And  he  was  like  a  King,  retired  apart,  and 
troubadours  and  gleemen  and  masters  disported  before  him  which 
could  do  the  best,  and  he  took  his  pleasure.     And  they  of  the 
town  were  in  great  misery,  from  the  Christians  who  warred  upon 
them  from  without,  and   the   famine  whereof  they   died  within. 
Moreover  Abeniaf  oppressed  them  greatly,  and  he  took  unto  him- 
self all  the  goods  of  those  who  died,  and  he  made  all  persons  equal, 
the  good  and  the  bad,  and  took  from  all  all  that  he  could  ;  and 
those  who  gave  him  nothing  he  ordered  to  be  tormented  with 
stripes,  and  cast  into  rigorous  prisons,  till  he  could  get  something 
from  them.    And  he  had  no  respect  neither  for  kinsman  nor  friend. 
There  was  but  one  measure  for  all,  and  men  cared  nothing  now  for 
their  possessions,  so  that  the  sellers  were  many  and  the  buyers  none. 
And  with  all  these  miseries  the  price  of  food  became  exceeding 
great,  for  the  cafiz  of  wheat  was  priced  at  ninety  maravedis,  and 
that  of  barley  at  eighty,  and  that  of  painick  *  eighty  and  five,  and 
that  of  all  pulse  sixty,  and  the  arroba  of  figs  seven,  and  of  honey 
twenty,  and  of  cheese  eighteen,  and  of  carobs  sixteen,  and  of 
Onions  twelve,  and  the  measure  of  oil  twenty :  flesh  there  was  none, 
neither  of  beast  nor  of  anything  else  ;  but  if  a  beast  died,  the  pound 
was  worth  three  maravedis.     And  they  were  so  weak  with  hunger 
that  the  Christians  came  to  the  walls  and  threw  stones  in  with  the 
hand,  and  there  was  none  who  had  strength  to  drive  them  back. 

XXII.  And  the  Cid  having  had  it  at  heart  to  take  the  town,  let 

1  A  grain  resembling  millet. 


342  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

make  an  engine,  and  placed  it  at  one  of  the  gates,  and  it  did  great 
hurt  both  to  the  walls  and  within  the  town ;  and  the  Moors  made 
other  engines,  with  the  which  they  brake  that  of  the  Cid.  And 
the  Cid  in  his  anger  let  make  three  engines,  and  placed  them  at 
the  three  gates  of  the  town,  and  they  did  marvellous  great  hurt. 
And  food  waxed  dearer  every  day,  till  at  last  dear  nor  cheap  it 
was  not  to  be  had,  and  there  was  a  great  mortality  for  famine  ;  and 
they  ate  dogs  and  cats  and  mice.  And  they  opened  the  vaults  and 
sewers  of  the  town,  and  took  out  the  stones  of  the  grapes  which 
they  had  eaten,  and  washed  them,  and  ate  them.  And  they  who 
had  horses  fed  upon  them.  And  many  men,  and  many  women, 
and  many  children  watched  when  the  gates  were  open,  and  went 
out  and  gave  themselves  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians,  who  slew 
some,  and  took  others,  and  sold  them  to  the  Moors  in  Alcudia ; 
and  the  price  of  a  Moor  was  a  loaf  and  a  pitcher  of  wine  :  and 
when  they  gave  them  food  and  they  took  their  fill,  they  died. 
Them  that  were  stronger  they  sold  to  merchants  who  came  there 
by  sea  from  all  parts.  And  the  Moors  of  Alcudia,  and  of  the 
town  which  the  Cid  had  made  there,  had  plenty  of  all  things,  and 
as  great  as  was  their  abundance,  even  so  great  was  the  misery  of 
those  in  the  town :  and  they  spake  the  verse  which  sayeth,  If  I  go 
to  the  right  the  water  will  destroy  me,  and  if  I  go  to  the  left  the 
lion  will  kill  me  ;  and  if  I  turn  back  there  is  the  fire. 

XXIII.  Now  the  Moors  of  Valencia  being  in  this  great  misery 
because  of  the  siege  which  the  Cid  laid  unto  the  town,  Abeniaf 
bethought  him  that  he  would  send  a  messenger  to  the  King  of  Za- 
ragoza,  and  beseech  him  to  come  to  his  succour,  even  as  he  had 
succoured  the  grandson  of  Alimaymon,  when  the  Lord  of  Denia 
and  Tortosa  came  against  him.  And  the  good  men  of  the  town 
took  counsel  whether  they  should  say  in  these  letters,  To  you  the 
King,  or  whether  they  should  humble  themselves  before  him  and 
call  him  Lord ;  and  they  debated  upon  this  for  three  days,  and 
agreed  that  they  would  call  him  Lord,  that  he  might  have  the  more 
compassion  upon  them.  And  though  Abeniaf  was  troubled  at 
heart  at  this  determination,  nevertheless  he  said  in  the  letter  as 
they  had  appointed.  And  he  called  a  Moor  who  spake  the  mixed 
language,  and  instructed  him  how  to  get  out  of  the  city  by  night, 
so  that  the  Christians  might  not  see  him,  and  told  him  that  when 
he  had  given  that  letter  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  the  King  would 
give  him  garments,  and  a  horse,  and  a  mule  to  ride  on,  and  that 
he  himself  would  show  favour  unto  him  as  long  as  he  lived.  So  the 
messenger  departed  with  the  letter.  And  the  famine  in  the  town 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  343 

waxed  greater,  and  food  was  not  now  bought  by  the  cafix,  neither 
by  \h£fanega,  but  by  ounces,  or  at  most  by  the  pound.  And  the 
pound  of  wheat  cost  a  maravedi  and  a  half,  and  that  of  barley  a 
maravtdi,  and  that  of  painick  a  maravedi  and  a  quarter,  and  of 
pulse  a  maravedi.  and  of  flax-seed  three  parts  of  a  maravedi,  and 
of  cheese  three  dineros,  and  of  honey  three,  and  of  figs  one ;  and 
the  panilla  of  oil  was  eight  dineros,  and  the  pound  of  colewort 
five,  and  the  ounce  of  carobs  three  parts  of  a  dinero,  and  the 
ounce  of  onions  the  same,  and  the  head  of  garlick  the  same ;  and 
a  pound  of  beast's  flesh  was  six  maravedis,  and  grape-stones  were 
half  a  dinero  the  pound,  and  the  skins  of  kine  and  of  beasts  five 
dineros  :  the  dinero  was  silver,  for  there  was  no  money  current 
save  silver  and  gold. 

XXIV.   When  the  King  of  Zaragoza  saw  the  letter  which  Abeniaf 
and  the  men  of  Valencia  had  sent  him,  he  gave  no  heed  to  it, 
neither  cared  he  for  the  messenger,  neither  did  he  give  him  even 
a  draught  of  water  for  his  reward.     And  the  messenger  waited  for 
his  answer  from  day  to  day  for  three  weeks,  and  he  dared  not  de- 
part without  it  for  fear  lest  Abeniaf  should  slay  him  ;  and  he  thought 
also  that  some  of  the  King's  people  would  come  out  after  him  and 
slay  him  upon  the  way  :  and  he  was  urgent  for  his  answer,  and  be- 
gan at  last  to  cry  aloud  at  the  gate  of  the  King's  house,  so  that 
the  King  asked  of  what  that  messenger  was  making  his  complaint. 
Then  they  told  the  King  that  he  wanted  his  answer  that  he  might 
be  gone.     And  the  King  wrote  an  answer  and  said,  that  this  aid 
which  they  besought  of  him  he  could  not  give  till  he  had  sent  to 
ask  help  of  King  Don  Alfonso  of  Castile,  for  he  could  not  else 
venture  to  do  battle  with  the  Cid.     And  he  exhorted  them  to  de- 
fend themselves  the  best  they  could  while  he  procured  horsemen 
from  King  Don  Alfonso  to  help  them,  and  that  they  should  from 
time  to  time  send  him  word  how  they  went  on.     So  the  messenger 
returned  in  great  sorrow  that  he  had  sped  no  better,  and  that 
nothing  had  been  given  him  as  Abeniaf  had  promised :  and 
this  which  the  King  of  Zaragoza  said  was  only  delay,  and  meant 
nothing.     And  the  famine  now  waxed  so  great  that  there  was  n 
food  to  sell,  and  many  died  of  hunger.     And  many  for  great  misery 
went  out  to  the  Christians,  recking  not  whether  they  should 
made  captive,  or  slain,  for  they  thought  it  better  to  be  slam  than 
to  perish  for  lack  of  food.    And  Abeniaf  searched  all  the  houses 
the  town  for  food,  and  where  he  found  any  store,  he  left  only  wh; 
would  suffice  for  a  fortnight  and  took  the  rest,  saying  that  in  t, 
time  the  King  of  Zaragoza  would  come  and  relieve  them,  fc 


344  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CJD, 

he  only  tarried  to  collect  great  store  of  food,  that  he  might  bring  it 
with  him.  This  he  said  to  keep  the  people  quiet,  and  to  encour- 
age them.  And  of  the  food  which  he  carried  away,  he  took  the 
most  part  for  himself  and  for  his  guards,  and  the  rest  he  ordered 
to  be  sold  in  such  manner  that  none  should  buy  more  than  would 
suffice  him  for  the  day.  And  what  he  took  he  did  not  pay  for, 
and  when  the  people  demanded  payment  he  put  them  off  till  an- 
other day ;  and  he  bade  them  not  complain,  for  they  would  be 
relieved  from  this  misery,  and  then  he  would  pay  them  well.  And 
they  who  had  any  food  left  buried  it  for  fear,  and  for  this  reason 
there  was  none  to  be  bought,  neither  dear  nor  cheap.  And  they 
who  had  nothing  else,  ate  herbs,  and  leather,  and  electuaries  from 
the  apothecaries  which  they  bought  at  a  great  price,  and  the  poor 
ate  the  dead  bodies. 

XXV.  Now  Abeniaf  had  no  hope  of  succour  save  only  from  the 
King  of  Zaragoza,  who  had  sent  to  bid  him  hold  out ;  and  he  sent 
to  him  every  night  to  tell  him  of  the  great  misery  which  there  was 
in  Valencia,  and  the  King  of  Zaragoza  returned  for  answer  that 
King  Don  Alfonso  had  sent  him  a  great  body  of  horsemen  with 
Garcia  Ordonez,  and  would  come  himself  after  them ;  and  he 
sent  in  this  letter  another  letter  written  with  his  own  hand,  and 
which  was  to  be  shown  to  the  good  men  of  the  town,  privily ; 
and  he  said  therein,  with  great  oaths  to  confirm  it,  that  he 
would  without  fail  come  and  deliver  them,  for  it  was  a  great  grief 
to  him  to  think  what  they  endured,  and  that  this  was  as  great 
sorrow  to  him,  as  theirs  could  be.  And  certain  of  the  King's 
favourites  wrote  to  Abeniaf  also  after  the  same  manner,  telling  him 
that  he  would  surely  come ;  howbeit  one  of  his  favourites  who  had 
compassion  upon  the  men  of  Valencia  sent  a  covert  message  to 
warn  them,  saying,  that  the  King  of  Zaragoza  would  build  a  tower 
in  Alcudia  de  Tudela ;  the  meaning  of  this  was,  that  all  the  King 
said,  was  only  to  put  them  off.  Abeniaf  did  not  understand  it, 
and  sent  to  ask  him  what  it  was  that  he  had  said  :  but  the  other 
made  him  no  reply.  Then  the  King  of  Zaragoza  sent  two  messen- 
gers to  the  Cid  with  jewels  and  rich  presents,  and  besought  him 
that  he  would  not  distress  the  men  of  Valencia  so  greatly,  and  also 
that  he  would  let  his  messengers  enter  the  town  that  they  might 
speak  with  Abeniaf.  This  the  Cid  would  not  permit ;  howbeit  they 
found  means  to  send  in  a  letter,  saying,  Wit  ye  that  I  send  to  en- 
treat the  Cid  that  he  will  not  do  so  great  evil  unto  you,  and  I  give 
him  jewels  and  rich  presents  that  he  may  do  my  will  in  this,  and  I 
believe  that  he  will  do  it.  But  if  he  should  not,  1  will  gather  to- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  345 

gather  a  great  host,  and  drive  him  out  of  the  land.  Howbeit  these 
were  but  dissembling  words,  for  the  King  of  Zaragoza  and  the  Cid 
were  friends  and  were  of  one  accord,  that  the  Cid  should  take 
Valencia  and  give  it  the  King,  who  should  give  him  great  treasures 
in  return. 

XXVI.  Then  the  Cid  began  to  treat  with  a  great  Moor  of  the 
town,  named  Abenmoxiz  that  he  should  rise  up  against  Abeniaf, 
and  kill  him  or  deliver  him  into  his  hands,  and  that  he  would  make 
him  Lord  over  Valencia,  and  the  country  as  far  as  Denia.  And 
Abenmoxiz  took  counsel  with  his  friends,  and  they  advised  him 
that  he  should  do  this ;  but  Abeniaf  knew  of  their  counsel,  and 
took  them,  and  put  them  in  prison,  and  gave  them  in  charge  to 
two  of  his  household  in  whom  he  had  great  trust.  And  Aben- 
moxiz talked  with  his  keepers,  and  told  them  all  that  he  purposed 
to  do,  and  promised  them,  if  they  would  release  him,  to  reward 
them  greatly  when  he  had  succeeded,  saying,  that  he  undertook 
this  with  the  consent  and  advice  of  the  King  of  Zaragoza ;  so  they 
were  persuaded  and  promised  to  join  with  him.  And  when  it  was 
night  Abenmoxiz  and  his  friends  and  the  two  keepers  agreed  to 
seize  the  Alcazar,  which  was  the  place  wherein  they  were  impris- 
oned, and  to  beat  the  alarm,  and  raise  a  cry  for  the  King  of  Zara- 
goza :  and  they  thought  the  men  of  the  town  would  join  with  them, 
and  then  they  would  go  to  the  house  of  Abeniaf  and  lay  hands  on 
him.  And  they  did  accordingly,  and  beat  a  drum,  and  sent  a 
crier  upon  the  tower  of  the  Mosque  to  bid  all  the  people  assemble 
at  the  Alcazar.  And  when  the  people  heard  the  drum  and  that 
crier  they  were  in  great  fear,  and  knew  not  what  to  think ;  and 
they  assembled  some  to  guard  their  own  houses,  other  some  to 
guard  the  tower,  till  they  knew  what  it  was.  And  when  Abeniaf 
heard  it,  he  was  greatly  dismayed,  and  he  asked  of  all  whom  he 
found  at  his  gates,  what  the  uproar  was,  and  what  this  thing  might 
be.  In  short  time  all  they  who  were  on  his  side,  both  horse  and 
foot,  assembled  together,  and  then  they  knew  what  it  was ;  and  he 
bade  them  go  to  the  Alcazar  and  take  Abenmoxiz,  and  all  that  held 
with  him.  Abenmoxiz  this  while  was  at  the  gate  of  the  Alcazar 
with  his  little  company,  thinking  that  the  whole  town  would  join 
him  ;  and  behold  Abeniaf  s  company  came  up  and  charged  him  ; 
and  he  thought  to  defend  himself  with  the  few  that  were  with  him, 
but  the  most  part  fled,  and  he  with  four  others  were  taken ;  and 
they  led  them  with  great  shame  to  the  house  of  Abeniaf,  who  sent 
him  to  prison,  and  gave  orders  to  smite  off  the  heads  of  the  others. 
And  Abeniaf  sent  to  lay  hands  on  all  whom  he  suspected,  mid  took 


346  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

from  them  all  that  they  had.  And  he  sent  messengers  to  the  King 
of  Zaragoza  to  tell  him  what  had  chanced,  and  they  took  with  them 
Abenmoxiz  prisoner,  and  they  were  charged  to  remain  at  Zaragoza. 
and  send  him  true  tidings  from  thence. 

XXVII.  Now  there  was  no  food  to  be  bought  in  the  city,  and 
the  people  were  in  the  waves  of  death  :  and  men  were  seen  to  drop 
and  die  in  the  streets,  and  the  Place  of  the  Alcazar  round  about  the 
walls  thereof  was  full  of  graves,  and  there  was  no  grave  which  had 
fewer  than  ten  bodies  in  it.  As  many  as  could  fled  out  of  the  town, 
and  delivered  themselves  up  to  the  Christians  to  be  made  prisoners. 
The  Cid  thought  that  they  who  were  the  Chiefs  within  the  walls, 
thrust  out  the  poor  and  feeble,  that  they  might  be  able  to  hold  out 
longer ;  and  it  troubled  him,  for  he  thought  to  take  the  town  by 
starving  it,  and  he  feared  the  coming  of  the  Almoravides.  Some- 
times it  troubled  him,  and  at  other  times  he  seemed  pleased  that 
the  Moors  should  come  out  and  give  themselves  prisoners  to  his 
people.  Now  it  befel  that  once,  at  such  time  as  it  seemed  to  please 
him,  some  of  the  chief  men  of  the  town  came  out  in  this  manner, 
and  counselled  him  that  he  should  attack  it,  for  they  said  the  men 
at  arms  were  few,  and  weak  for  hunger,  and  that  he  might  presently 
win  it :  and  the  Cid  took  thought  upon  this  matter  and  resolved  to 
do  as  they  said ;  and  he  gathered  together  his  host  and  advanced 
against  the  gate  which  is  called  Belfanhanes,  that  is  to  say,  the  ( into 
of  the  Snake,  and  they  drew  nigh  unto  the  wall.  And  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  town  assembled,  even  all  the  force  which  was  therein, 
and  threw  down  stones  from  the  gate  and  from  the  wall,  and  shot 
their  arrows,  so  that  neither  stone  nor  arrow  fell  in  vain  ;  and  the 
Cid  and  they  who  had  advanced  with  him  went  into  a  bath  which  was 
near  the  wall,  to  be  under  cover  from  the  arrows.  And  Abeniafs 
company  opened  the  gate  and  sallied  out,  seeing  that  the  stones 
and  arrows  from  the  wall  had  hurt  many,  and  made  the  Christians 
draw  back ;  and  the  Cid  and  they  who  were  with  him  remained  in 
the  bath,  being  shut  up  there,  for  they  could  not  go  out  by  the 
door  whereat  they  had  entered,  and  they  broke  through  the  wall 
on  the  other  side,  and  the  Cid  escaped  that  way,  being  thus  put  to 
rout.  Then  he  thought  himself  ill-advised  in  having  attacked  the 
town,  and  in  putting  himself  into  a  place  from  whence  he  had  es- 
caped with  such  great  danger  •  and  he  held  that  the  worst  war 
which  he  could  make  upon  the  men  of  Valencia  was  to  let  them 
die  of  hunger.  So  he  ordered  proclamation  to  be  made  so  loud 
that  all  the  Moors  upon  the  walls  could  hear,  bidding  all  who  had 
come  out  from  the  town  to  return  into  it,  or  he  would  burn  as  many 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  347 

as  he  should  find ;  and  saying  also  that  he  would  slay  all  who  came 
out  from  that  time  forth.  Nevertheless  they  continued  to  let  them- 
selves down  from  the  walls,  and  the  Christians  took  them  without 
liis  knowledge.  But  as  many  as  he  found  he  burnt  alive  before 
the  walls,  so  that  the  Moors  could  see  them ;  in  one  day  he  burnt 
eighteen,  and  cast  others  alive  to  the  dogs,  who  tore  them  in  pieces. 
They  who  could  hide  any  sent  them  away  by  sea  and  by  land  to  be 
sold  ;  the  most  whom  they  sent  were  young  men  and  girls,  for  others 
they  would  not  take ;  and  many  virgins  they  kept  for  themselves. 
And  if  they  knew  that  any  who  came  out  had  left  kinsmen  or  friends 
in  the  town  who  would  give  anything  for  them,  they  tortured  them 
before  the  walls,  or  hung  them  from  the  towers  of  the  Mosques 
which  were  without  the  city,  and  stoned  them  ;  and  when  they  in 
the  town  saw  this  they  gave  ransom  for  them,  that  they  might  be 
permitted  to  dwell  in  Alcudia  with  the  Moors  who  were  in  peace 
with  the  Cid.  This  continued  for  two  months,  till  there  were  only 
four  beasts  left  in  the  town,  and  one  was  a  mule  of  Abeniaf's,  and 
another  was  a  horse  of  his  son's ;  and  the  people  were  so  wasted 
that  there  were  but  few  who  had  strength  to  mount  the  wall. 

XXVIII.  The  company  of  Abeniaf  and  of  his  kinsmen  de- 
spaired now  of  holding  out,  and  of  the  help  of  the  King  of  Zarago- 
za,  or  of  the  Almoravides,  and  they  desired  rather  to  die  than  en- 
dure this  misery.  And  the  good  men  of  the  city,  as  many  as  were 
left,  went  to  an  Alfaqui,  who  was  a  good  man,  and  one  who  was 
held  in  great  esteem,  and  besought  him  to  give  them  counsel,  for 
he  saw  their  great  distress,  and  how  they  were  out  of  all  hope  of 
succour ;  and  they  besought  him  that  he  would  go  to  Abeniaf,  and 
know  of  him  what  he  thought  to  do,  or  what  hope  he  had,  that  he 
let  them  all  perish  thus.  The  Alfaqui  gave  ear  to  them,  and  said 
that  if  they  would  all  hold  together,  and  be  of  one  heart,  and  show 
great  anger  at  having  been  brought  to  this  misery,  he  would  do  all 
he  could  to  relieve  them  ;  and  they  promised  to  do  whatever  he 
should  advise.  Now  Abeniaf  knew  of  the  talk  which  the  good  men 
of  the  town  had  had  with  the  Alfaqui,  and  understood  that  it  was 
because  of  the  great  misery  which  they  endured ;  and  he  thought 
in  his  heart  that  he  would  humble  himself,  and  do  whatever  his 
people  should  think  good.  And  the  Alfaqui  thought  that  happy 
man  was  his  dole  now  that  the  people  had  committed  themselves 
to  his  guidage,  and  he  went  to  Abeniaf  and  communed  with  him, 
and  their  accord  was  to  give  up  all  hope  of  succour.  And  Abeniaf 
put  himself  in  the  hands  of  the  Alfaqui,  that  he  should  go  be- 
tween him  and  the  Cid  and  the  people  of  Valencia,  and  make  the 


348  CHRONICLE   OF  THE    CID, 

best  terms  for  them  that  he  could,  seeing  that  they  could  no  longer 
hold  out,  and  maintain  the  town. 

XXIX.  Here  the  history  relates  that  at  this  time  Martin  Pelaez 
the  Asturian  came  with  a  convoy  of  laden  beasts,  carrying  provis- 
ions to  the  host  of  the  Cid ;  and  as  he  passed  near  the  town  the 
Moors  sallied  out  in  great  numbers  against  him  ;  but  he,  though  he 
had  few  with  him,  defended  the  convoy  right  well,  and  did  great 
hurt  to  the  Moors,  slaying  many  of  them,  and  drove  them  into  the 
town.  This  Martin  Pelaez  who  is  here  spoken  of,  did  the  Cid 
make  a  right  good  knight,  of  a  coward,  as  ye  shall  hear.  When 
the  Cid  first  began  to  lay  siege  to  the  city  of  Valencia,  this  Martin 
Pelaez  came  unto  him  ;  he  was  a  knight,  a  native  of  Santillana  in 
Asturias,  a  hidalgo,  great  of  body  and  strong  of  limb,  a  well-made 
man  and  of  goodly  semblance,  but  withal  a  right  coward  at  heart, 
which  he  had  shown  in  many  places  when  he  was  among  feats  of 
arms.  And  the  Cid  was  sorry  when  he  came  unto  him,  though  he 
would  not  let  him  perceive  this ;  for  he  knew  he  was  not  fit  to  be 
of  his  company.  Howbeit  he  thought  that  since  he  was  come  he 
would  make  him  brave  whether  he  would  or  not.  And  when  the 
Cid  began  to  war  upon  the  town,  and  sent  parties  against  it  twice 
and  thrice  a  day,  as  ye  have  heard,  for  the  Cid  was  alway  upon 
the  alert,  there  was  fighting  and  tourneying  every  day.  One  day 
it  fell  out  that  the  Cid  and  his  kinsmen  and  friends  and  vassals 
were  engaged  in  a  great  encounter,  and  this  Martin  Pelaez  was 
well  armed  ;  and  when  he  saw  that  the  Moors  and  Christians  were 
at  it,  he  fled  and  betook  himself  to  his  lodging,  and  there  hid  him- 
self till  the  Cid  returned  to  dinner.  And  the  Cid  saw  what  Mar- 
tin Pelaez  did,  and  when  he  had  conquered  the  Moors  he  returned 
to  his  lodging  to  dinner.  Now  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Cid  to 
eat  at  a  high  table,  seated  on  his  bench,  at  the  head.  And  Don 
Alvar  Fanez,  and  Pero  Bermudez,  and  other  precious  knights,  ate 
in  another  part,  at  high  tables,  full  honourably,  and  none  other 
knights  whatsoever  dared  take  their  seats  with  them,  unless  they 
were  such  as  deserved  to  be  there  ;  and  the  others  who  were  not 
so  approved  in  arms  ate  upon  eslrajos,  at  tables  with  cushions. 
This  was  the  order  in  the  house  of  the  Cid,  and  every  one  knew 
the  place  where  he  was  to  sit  at  meat,  and  every  one  strove  all  he 
could  to  gain  the  honour  of  sitting  to  eat  at  the  table  of  Don  Alvar 
Fanez  and  his  companions,  by  strenuously  behaving  himself  in  all 
feats  of  arms  ;  and  thus  the  honour  of  the  Cid  was  advanced. 
This  Martin  Pelaez,  thinking  that  none  had  seen  his  badness, 
washed  his  hands  in  turn  with  the  other  knights,  and  would  have 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  349 

taken  his  place  among  them.  And  the  Cid  went  unto  him,  and 
took  him  by  the  hand  and  said,  You  are  not  such  a  one  as  deserves 
to  sit  with  these,  for  they  are  worth  more  than  you  or  than  me ; 
but  I  will  have  you  with  me  :  and  he  seated  him  with  himself  at 
table.  And  he,  for  lack  of  understanding,  thought  that  the  Cid 
did  this  to  honour  him  above  all  the  others.  On  the  morrow  the 
Cid  and  his  company  rode  towards  Valencia,  and  the  Moors  came 
out  to  the  tourney ;  and  Martin  Pelaez  went  out  well  armed,  and 
was  among  the  foremost  who  charged  the  Moors,  and  when  he 
was  in  among  them  he  turned  the  reins,  and  went  back  to  his  lodg- 
ing; and  the  Cid  took  heed  to  all  that  he  did,  and  saw  that 
though  he  had  done  badly  he  had  done  better  than  the  first  day. 
And  when  the  Cid  had  driven  the  Moors  into  the  town  he  returned 
to  his  lodging,  and  as  he  sat  down  to  meat  he  took  this  Martin 
Pelaez  by  the  hand,  and  seated  him  with  himself,  and  bade  him 
eat  with  him  in  the  same  dish,  for  he  had  deserved  more  that  day 
than  he  had  the  first.  And  the  knight  gave  heed  to  that  saying 
and  was  abashed  ;  howbeit  he  did  as  the  Cid  commanded  him  : 
and  after  he  had  dined  he  went  to  his  lodging  and  began  to  think 
upon  what  the  Cid  had  said  unto  him,  and  perceived  that  he  had 
seen  all  the  baseness  which  he  had  done ;  and  then  he  understood 
that  for  this  cause  he  would  not  let  him  sit  at  board  with  the  other 
knights  who  were  precious  in  arms,  but  had  seated  him  with  him- 
self, more  to  affront  him  than  to  do  him  honour,  for  there  were 
other  knights  there  better  than  he,  and  he  did  not  show  them  that 
honour.  Then  resolved  he  in  his'  heart  to  do  better  than  he  had 
done  heretofore.  Another  day  the  Cid  and  his  company  and 
Martin  Pelaez  rode  toward  Valencia,  and  the  Moors  came  out  to 
the  tourney  full  resolutely,  and  Martin  Pelaez  was  among  the  first, 
and  charged  them  right  boldly;  and  he  smote  down  and  slew 
presently  a  good  knight,  and  he  lost  there  all  the  bad  fear  which 
he  had  had,  and  was  that  day  one  of  the  best  knights  there :  and 
as  long  as  the  tourney  lasted  there  he  remained,  smiting  and  slay- 
ing and  overthrowing  the  Moors,  till  they  were  driven  within  the 
gates,  in  such  manner  that  the  Moors  marvelled  at  him,  and 
asked  where  that  Devil  came  from,  for  they  had  never  seen  him 
before.  And  the  Cid  was  in  a  place  where  he  could  see  all  that 
was  going  on,  and  he  gave  good  heed  to  him,  and  had  great  pleas- 
ure in  beholding  him,  to  see  how  well  he  had  forgotten  the  great 
fear  which  he  was  wont  to  have.  And  when  the  Moors  were  shut 
up  within  the  town,  the  Cid  and  all  his  people  returned  to  their 
lodging,  and  Martin  Pelaez  full  leisurely  and  quietly  went  to  his 


i50  CHRONICLE   OF  THE    CID, 

lodging  also,  like  a  good  knight.  And  when  -it  was  the  hour  of 
eating  the  Cid  waited  for  Martin  Pelaez,  and  when  he  came,  and 
they  had  washed,  the  Cid  took  him  by  the  hand  and  said,  My 
friend,  you  are  not  such  a  one  as  deserves  to  sit  with  me  from 
henceforth,  but  sit  you  here  with  Don  Alvar  Fanez,  and  with  these 
other  good  knights,  for  the  good  feats  which  you  have  done  this 
day  have  made  you  a  companion  for  them ;  and  from  that  day 
forward  he  was  placed  in  the  company  of  the  good.  And  the  his- 
tory said  that  from  that  day  forward  this  knight  Martin  Pelaez  was 
a  right  good  one,  and  a  right  valiant,  and  a  right  precious,  in  all 
places  where  he  chanced  among  feats  of  arms,  and  he  lived  alway 
with  the  Cid,  and  served  him  right  well  and  truly.  And  the  his- 
tory saith,  that  after  the  Cid  had  won  the  city  of  Valencia,  on  the 
day  when  they  conquered  and  discomfited  the  King  of  Seville, 
this  Martin  Pelaez  was  so  good  a  one,  that  setting  aside  the  body 
of  the  Cid  himself,  there  was  no  such  good  knight  there,  nor  one 
who  bore  such  part,  as  well  in  the  battle  as  in  the  pursuit.  And 
so  great  was  the  mortality  which  he  made  among  the  Moors  that 
day,  that  when  he  returned  from  the  business  the  sleeves  of  his 
mail  were  clotted  with  blood,  up  to  the  elbow ;  insomuch  that  for 
what  he  did  that  day  his  name  is  written  in  this  history,  that  it 
may  never  die.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  him  come  in  that  guise, 
he  did  him  great  honour,  such  as  he  never  had  done  to  any  knight 
before  that  day,  and  from  thenceforward  gave  him  a  place  in  all  his 
actions  and  in  all  his  secrets,  and  he  was  his  great  friend.  In  this 
knight  Martin  Pelaez  was  fulfilled  the  example  which  saith,  that  he 
who  be  take  th  himself  to  a  good  tree,  hath  good  shade,  and  he 
who  serves  a  good  Lord  winneth  good  guerdon  ;  for  by  reason  of 
the  good  service  which  he  did  the  Cid,  he  came  to  such  good 
state  that  he  was  spoken  of  as  ye  have  heard  :  for  the  Cid  knew 
how  to  make  a  good  knight,  as  a  good  groom  knows  how  to  make 
a  good  horse.  The  history  now  leaves  to  speak  of  him,  and  re- 
turns to  the  accord  of  the  Alfaqui  and  Abeniaf,  which  they  pro- 
pounded unto  the  Cid. 

XXX.  This  Alfaqui  sent  his  messengers  to  an  Almoxarife  of  the 
Cid  whose  name  was  Abdalla  Adiz,  who  was  a  good  man  and  one 
whom  the  Cid  loved,  and  who  never  left  him  after  he  had  obtained 
his  favour.  And  when  Abdalla  Adiz  heard  that  they  wished  to 
propose  terms,  he  spake  with  the  Cid  upon  this  matter,  and  the 
Cid  bade  him  enter  the  town,  and  speak  with  them,  and  know  of 
them  what  they  would  have.  And  he  went  into  the  town,  and 
spake  with  them  as  the  Cid  had  commanded,  and  came  out  again, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  351 

and  reported  unto  him  what  they  had  said,  till  he  had  made  terms 
between  them.  Abeniaf  sent  three  good  men  with  him  to  confirm 
the  terms  which  were  made,  and  the  covenant  was  after  this  man- 
ner, that  they  of  Valencia  should  send  messengers  to  the  King  of 
Zaragoza,  and  to  AH  Abenaxa  who  was  Adelantado  of  the  Almora- 
vides  and  Lord  of  Murcia,  beseeching  them  to  succour  them  within 
fifteen  days  ;  and  if  within  that  time  they  were  not  succoured  they 
should  then  give  up  the  city  to  the  Cid.  with  such  conditions,  that 
Abeniaf  should  remain  mighty  in  the  town,  as  he  had  been  before, 
his  person  being  secure  and  all  that  he  had,  and  his  wives,  and  his 
children,  and  that  he  should  remain  Veedor,  that  is  to  say,  Over- 
seer, of  all  the  rents  of  the  town,  he  and  the  Almoxarife  of  the 
Cid,  and  a  Moor  who  was  called  Musa  should  be  Guazil  of  the 
town  :  this  Musa  had  looked  after  the  affairs  of  the  Cid  in  the  time 
of  King  Yahia,  and  never  forsook  him  after  the  death  of  the  King 
his  Lord ;  and  the  Cid  made  him  Alcayde  of  a  Castle,  and  alway 
found  him  loyal,  and  at  his  service,  and  for  this  reason  trusted  he 
in  him  so  as  to  make  him  Guazil,  who  should  keep  the  keys  of  the 
town,  with  a  guard  of  Almocadenes,  and  of  Christian  footmen  of 
Almogavares  who  had  been  born  in  the  land  of  the  Moors.  And 
it  was  appointed  that  the  Cid  should  dwell  in  Juballa,  in  the  town 
which  he  had  made,  and  that  he  should  alter  none  of  their  privi- 
leges, nor  of  their  customs,  nor  the  rents  which  they  paid,  nor  their 
money. 

XXXI.  Presently  on  the  morrow  they  sent  five  good  men  as 
messengers  to  the  King  of  Zaragoza,  and  as  many  more  to  Murcia  ; 
and  it  had  been  covenanted  that  neither  of  these  messengers 
should  take  with  him  more  than  fifty  maravedis  for  his  journey, 
aud  that  they  should  go  by  sea  as  far  as  Denia,  in  a  ship  of  the 
Christians,  and  from  thence  by  land.  These  messengers  embarked 
with  their  company  on  board  that  ship,  and  the  Cid  sent  orders  to 
the  master  thereof  not  to  sail  till  he  came ;  and  the  Cid  came 
himself  in  his  own  body  and  bade  them  search  the  messengers  to 
see  if  they  took  with  them  more  than  had  been  agreed ;  and  he 
found  upon  them  great  riches  in  gold  and  in  silver  and  in  pearls 
and  in  precious  stones ;  part  was  their  own,  and  part  belonged  to 
other  merchants  in  the  city,  who  thought  to  send  it  to  Murcia,  not 
being  minded  to  abide  in  Valencia :  and  he  took  it  all,  leaving 
them  no  more  than  fifty  maravedis  each,  according  to  the  cove- 
nant. This  was  the  price  of  food  on  the  day  when  these  messen- 
gers departed  :  the  pound  of  wheat  was  three  maravedis,  and  the 
pound  of  barley  one  and  a  half,  and  the  pound  of  painick  three, 


352  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

saving  a  quarter  ;  the  ounce  of  cheese  three  dineros,  and  the  ounce 
of  hemp  seed  four,  and  the  pound  of  colewort  one  maravedi  and 
two  dineros  of  silver,  and  the  pound  of  neat-skin  one  maravedi. 
In  the  whole  town  there  was  only  one  mule  of  Abeniafs,  and  one 
horse :  another  horse  which  belonged  to  a  Moor  he  sold  to  a 
butcher  for  three  hundred  and  eighty  doblas  of  gold,  bargaining 
that  he  should  have  ten  pounds  of  the  flesh.  And  the  butcher  sold 
the  flesh  of  that  horse  at  ten  maravedis  the  short  pound,  and  after- 
wards at  twelve,  and  the  head  for  twenty  doblas  of  gold. 

XXXII.  The  Moors  of  Valencia  were  now  something  comforted, 
for  they  weened  that  they  should  receive  help,  and  the  Christians 
did  not  now  war  upon  them ;  nevertheless  they  kept  guard,  and 
went  the  rounds,  as  before,  and  waited  for  the  day  appointed,  as 
one  who  looked  to  be  released  from  prison.  And  for  this  reason 
men  began  to  bring  out  the  food  which  they  had  hidden,  and  to 
sell  of  it,  and  thus  they  went  on  till  the  time  expired,  and  the 
messengers  were  not  returned.  And  Abeniaf  besought  them  that 
they  would  wait  yet  three  days  more,  but  they  made  answer  that 
they  would  not,  for  they  could  bear  it  no  longer.  And  the  Cid 
sent  unto  them  bidding  them  yield  up  the  town,  as  they  had  cove- 
nanted to  do ;  and  he  swore  with  great  oaths,  that  if  they  delayed 
a  single  hour  after  the  time  was  expired,  he  would  not  keep  the 
terms  which  he  had  made,  and  moreover  that  he  would  slay  the 
hostages  ;  nevertheless  they  let  a  day  pass  over  and  above  the  term. 
And  then  they  who  made  the  covenant  with  the  Cid  went  out  unto 
him  and  besought  him  to  come  and  receive  the  town,  but  the  Cid 
said  wrathfully  to  them  that  he  was  not  bound  to  keep  the  terms, 
seeing  they  had  let  the  time  appointed  pass ;  and  they  yielded 
themselves  into  his  hands  that  he  should  do  with  them  according 
to  his  pleasure ;  then  he  was  moved  to  compassion,  and  had  pity 
upon  them.  And  Abeniaf  and  other  good  men  came  out,  and  the 
writings  were  made  and  were  confirmed  on  both  sides,  by  the 
Chiefs  of  the  Christians  and  of  the  Moors,  and  the  gates  were 
opened  at  the  hour  of  noon,  upon  Thursday  the  last  day  of  June, 
after  the  feast  of  St.  John,  which  the  Moors  call  Alhazaro.  And 
when  the  gate  was  opened  Abeniaf  was  there  within,  with  a  great 
company  round  about  him,  both  of  his  own  people  and  of  those  of 
the  town ;  and  the  Christians  as  they  entered  ascended  the  walls 
and  towers.  And  Abeniaf  asked  why  so  many  went  up,  for  it  was 
not  in  the  terms  ;  but  they  would  not  cease  for  that,  and  they  took 
possession  of  all,  little  to  his  liking. 


RODKIGO  DIAZ  DE  BITAR.  353 


BOOK   VII. 

I.  AND  all  the  people  of  the  town  gathered  together,  like  men 
risen  from  their  graves,  .  .  yea,  like  the  dead  when  the  trumpet 
shall  sound  for  the  day  of  judgment,  and  men  shall  come  out  of 
their  graves  and  be  gathered  together  before  the  Majesty  of  God. 
And  hucksters  came  from  Alcudia  and  brought  bread  and  pulse  to 
sell,  and  others  of  the  town  went  out  to  Alcudia  to  buy  food  ;  and 
they  who  were  poor,  and  had  not  wherewith  to  buy,  plucked  of 
the  herbs  of  the  field  and  ate  them,  and  they  held  themselves  rich 
because  they  could  go  out  when  they  would,  and  enter  in  again  with- 
out fear.     And  such  as  were  wise  among  them  abstained  from  tak- 
ing much  food,  fearing  what  would  happen,  and  they  took  it  little 
by  little  till  they  had  gotten  strength ;  all  they  who  took  their  fill 
died,  and  the  mortality  among  them  was  so  great  that  all  the  fields 
were  full  of  graves. 

II.  On  the  following  day  after  the  Christians  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  town,  the  Cid  entered  it  with  a  great  company,  and  he 
ascended  the  highest  tower  of  the  wall,  and  beheld  all  the  city ; 
and  the  Moors  came  unto  him,  and  kissed  his  hand,  saying  he  was 
welcome.     And  the  Cid  did  great  honour  unto  them.     And  then 
he  gave  order  that  all  the  windows  of  the  towers  which  looked  in 
upon  the  town  should  be  closed  up,  that  the  Christians  might  not 
see  what  the  Moors  did  in  their  houses ;  and  the  Moors  thanked 
him   for   this   greatly.     And   he   commanded  and  requested  the 
Christians  that  they  should  show  great  honour  to  the  Moors,  and 
respect  them,  and  greet  them  when  they  met :  and  the  Moors 
thanked  the  Cid  greatly  for  the  honour  which  the  Christians  did 
them,  saying  that  they  had  never  seen  so  good  a  man,  nor  one  so 
honourable,  nor  one  who  had  his  people  under  such  obedience. 

III.  Now  Abeniaf  thought  to  have  the  love  of  the  Cid ;  and 
calling  to  mind  the  wrath  with  which  he  had  formerly  been  re- 
ceived, because  he  had  not  taken  a  gift  with  him,  he  took  now 
great  riches  which  he  had  taken  from  those  who  sold  bread  for  so 
great  a  price  during  the  siege  of  Valencia,  and  this  he  carried  to 
the  Cid  as  a  present.     Among  those  who  had  sold  it  were  some 


354  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

men  from  the  Islands  of  Majorca,  and  he  took  from  them  all  that 
they  had.  This  the  Cid  knew,  and  he  would  not  accept  his  gifts. 
And  the  Cid  caused  proclamation  to  be  made  in  the  town  and 
throughout  the  whole  district  thereof,  that  the  honourable  men  and 
knights  and  castellans  should  assemble  together  in  the  garden  of 
Villa  Nueva,  where  the  Cid  at  that  time  sojourned.  And  when 
they  were  all  assembled,  he  went  out  unto  them,  to  a  place  which 
was  made  ready  with  carpets  and  with  mats,  and  he  made  them 
take  their  seats  before  him  full  honourably,  and  began  to  speak 
unto  them  saying,  I  am  a  man  who  have  never  possessed  a  king- 
dom, neither  I  nor  any  man  of  my  lineage.  But  the  day  when  I 
first  beheld  this  city  I  was  well  pleased  therewith,  and  coveted  it 
that  I  might  be  its  Lord  :  and  I  besought  the  Lord  our  God  that 
he  would  give  it  me.  See  now  what  his  power  is,  for  the  day  when 
I  sat  down  before  Juballa  I  had  no  more  than  four  loaves  of  bread, 
and  now  by  God's  mercy  I  have  won  Valencia.  And  if  I  adminis- 
ter right  and  justice  here  God  will  let  me  enjoy  it,  but  if  I  do  evil, 
and  demean  myself  proudly  and  wrongfully,  I  know  that  he  will 
take  it  away.  Now  then  let  every  one  go  to  his  own  lands,  and 
possess  them  even  as  he  was  wont  to  have  and  to  hold  them. 
He  who  shall  find  his  field,  or  his  vineyard,  or  his  garden,  desert, 
let  him  incontinently  enter  thereon ;  and  he  who  shall  find  his 
husbanded,  let  him  pay  him  that  hath  cultivated  it  the  cost  of  his 
labour,  and  of  the  seed  which  he  hath  sown  therein,  and  remain 
with  his  heritage,  according  to  the  law  of  the  Moors.  Moreover  I 
have  given  order  that  they  who  collect  my  dues  take  from  you  no 
more  than  the  tenth,  because  so  it  is  appointed  by  the  custom  of 
the  Moors,  and  it  is  what  ye  been  been  wont  to  pay.  And  I 
have  resolved  in  my  heart  to  hear  your  complaints  two  days  in  the 
week,  on  the  Monday  and  the  Thursday ;  but  if  causes  should  arise 
which  require  haste,  come  to  me  when  ye  will  and  I  will  give  judg- 
ment, for  I  do  not  retire  with  women  to  sing  and  to  drink,  as  your 
Ix>rds  have  done,  so  that  ye  could  obtain  no  justice,  but  will  my- 
self see  to  these  things,  and  watch  over  ye  as  friend  over  his  friend, 
and  kinsman  over  his  kinsman.  And  I  will  be  Cadi  and  Guazil, 
and  when  dispute  happens  among  ye  I  will  decide  it.  When  he 
had  said  these  things  they  all  replied  that  they  prayed  God  to  pre- 
serve him  through  long  and  happy  years,  and  four  of  the  most 
honourable  among  them  rose  and  kissed  his  hands,  and  the  Cid 
bade  them  take  their  seats  again. 

.  IV.  Then  the  Cid  spake  unto  them  and  said,  It  is  told  me  that 
Abeniaf  hath  done  much  evil,  and  committed  great  wrong  toward 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAK.  355 

some  of  ye,  in  that  he  hath  taken  great  riches  from  ye  to  present 
them  to  me,  saying,  that  this  he  did  because  ye  sold  food  for  a 
great  price  during  the  siege.  But  1  will  accept  of  no  such  gift ; 
for  if  I  were  minded  to  have  your  riches,  I  could  take  them,  and 
need  not  ask  them  neither  from  him  nor  from  any  other ;  but  thing 
so  unseemly  as  to  take  that  which  is  his  from  any  one,  without  just 
cause,  I  will  not  do.  They  who  have  gotten  wealth  thus,  God  hath 
given  it  them ;  let  them  go  to  Abeniaf,  and  take  back  what  he 
hath  forced  from  them,  for  I  will  order  him  to  restore  the  whole. 
Then  he  said,  Ye  see  the  riches  which  I  took  from  the  messengers 
who  went  to  Murcia ;  it  is  mine  by  right,  for  I  took  it  in  war 
because  they  brake  the  covenant  which  they  had  made,  and  would 
have  deceived  me  :  nevertheless  I  will  restore  it  to  the  uttermost 
farthing,  that  nothing  thereof  shall  be  lost.  And  ye  shall  do  hom- 
age to  me  that  ye  will  not  withdraw  yourselves,  but  will  abide  here, 
and  do  my  bidding  in  all  things,  and  never  depart  from  the  cov- 
enant which  ye  make  with  me ;  for  I  love  ye,  and  am  grieved  to 
think  of  the  great  evil  and  misery  which  ye  endured  from  the  great 
famine,  and  of  the  mortality  which  there  was.  And  if  ye  had  done 
that  before  which  ye  have  done  now,  ye  would  not  have  been 
brought  to  these  sufferings  and  have  bought  the  cafiz  of  wheat  at 
a  thousand  maravedis ;  but  I  trust  in  God  to  bring  it  to  one  mara- 
vedi.  Be  ye  now  secure  in  your  lands,  and  till  your  fields,  and 
rear  cattle  ;  for  I  have  given  order  to  my  men  that  they  offer  ye  no 
wrong,  neither  enter  into  the  town  to  buy  nor  to  sell ;  but  that  they 
carry  on  all  their  dealings  in  Alcudia,  and  this  I  do  that  ye  may 
receive  no  displeasure.  Moreover  I  command  them  not  to  take 
any  captive  into  the  town,  but  if  this  should  be  done,  lay  ye  hands 
on  the  captive  and  set  him  free,  without  fear,  and  if  any  one  should 
resist,  kill  him  and  fear  not.  I  myself  will  not  enter  your  city  nor 
dwell  therein,  but  I  will  build  me  a  place  beside  the  Bridge  of 
Alcantara,  where  I  may  go  and  disport  myself  at  times,  and  repair 
when  it  is  needful.  When  he  had  said  these  things  he  bade  them 
go  their  way. 

V.  Well  pleased  were  the  Moors  when  they  departed  from  him, 
and  they  marvelled  at  the  greatness  of  his  promises,  and  they  set 
their  hearts  at  rest,  and  put  away  the  fear  which  they  had  had, 
thinking  all  their  troubles  were  over ;  for  in  all  the  promises  which 
the  Cid  had  made  unto  them,  they  believed  that  he  spake  truth  ; 
but  he  said  these  things  only  to  quiet  them,  and  to  make  them 
come  to  what  he  wished,  even  as  came  to  pass.  And  when  he 
had  done,  he  sent  his  Almoxarife,  Abdalla  Adiz,  to  the  Custom 


3*6  CHROXICLF.    OF  THE   CID, 

House,  and  made  him  appoint  men  to  collect  the  rents  of  the 
town  for  him,  which  was  done  accordingly.  And  when  the  Cid 
had  given  order  concerning  his  own  affairs  at  his  pleasure,  the 
Moors  would  fain  have  entered  again  into  possession  of  their  heri- 
tages as  he  told  them ;  but  they  found  it  all  otherwise,  for  of  all 
the  fields  which  the  Christians  had  husbanded,  they  would  not 
yield  up  one ;  albeit  they  let  them  enter  upon  such  as  were  left 
waste :  some  said  that  the  Cid  had  given  them  the  lands  that 
year,  instead  of  their  pay,  and  other  some  that  they  rented 
them  and  had  paid  rent  for  the  year.  So  the  Moors  seeing  this, 
waited  till  Thursday,  when  the  Cid  was  to  hear  complaints,  as  he 
had  said  unto  them.  When  Thursday  came  all  the  honourable 
men  went  to  the  Garden,  but  the  Cid  sent  to  say  unto  them  that 
he  could  not  come  out  that  day,  because  of  other  causes  which  he 
had  to  determine  ;  and  he  desired  that  they  would  go  their  way 
for  that  time,  and  come  again  on  the  Monday :  this  was  to  show 
his  mastery.  And  when  it  was  Monday  they  assembled  again  in 
the  Garden,  and  the  Cid  came  out  to  them,  and  took  his  seat  upon 
the  estrado,  and  the  Moors  made  their  complaint.  And  when  he 
had  heard  them,  he  began  to  make  similitudes,  and  offer  reasons 
which  were  not  like  those  which  he  had  spoken  the  first  day,  for 
he  said  to  them,  I  ask  of  ye,  whether  it  is  well  that  I  should  be 
left  without  men  ?  for  if  I  were  without  them,  I  should  be  like  unto 
one  who  hath  lost  his  right  arm,  or  to  a  bird  that  hath  no  wings, 
or  to  one  who  should  do  battle  and  hath  neither  spear  nor  sword. 
The  first  thing  which  I  have  to  look  to  is  to  the  well-being  of  un- 
people, that  they  may  live  in  wealth  and  honour,  so  that  they  may 
be  able  to  serve  me,  and  defend  my  honour :  for  since  it  has 
pleased  God  to  give  me  the  city  of  Valencia,  I  will  not  that  there 
be  any  other  Lord  here  than  me.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you  and 
command  you,  if  you  would  be  well  with  me,  and  would  that  I 
should  show  favour  unto  you,  that  ye  see  how  to  deliver  that  traitor 
Abeniaf  into  my  hands.  Ye  all  know  the  great  treason  which  he 
committed  upon  King  Yahia,  his  Lord  and  yours,  how  he  slew  him, 
and  the  misery  which  he  brought  upon  you  in  the  siege  ;  and  since 
it  is  not  fitting  that  a  traitor  who  hath  slain  his  Lord  should  live 
among  you,  and  that  his  treason  should  be  confounded  with  your 
loyalty,  see  to  the  obeyment  of  my  command. 

VI.  When  the  honourable  Moors  heard  this  they  were  dismayed  ; 
verily  they  knew  that  he  spake  truth  touching  the  death  of  the 
King,  but  it  troubled  them  that  he  departed  from  the  promise 
which  he  had  made  ;  and  they  made  answer  that  they  would  take 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR,  357 

counsel  concerning  what  he  had  said,  and  then  reply.  Then  five 
of  the  best  and  most  honourable  among  them  withdrew,  and  went 
to  Abdalla  Adiz,  and  said  unto  him,  Aread  us  thy  read  now  the 
best  and  truest  that  thou  canst,  for  thou  art  of  our  law,  and  oughtest 
to  do  this ;  and  the  reason  why  we  ask  counsel  of  thee  is  this. 
The  Cid  promised  us  many  things,  and  now  behold  he  says  nothing 
to  us  of  what  he  said  before,  but  moveth  other  new  reasons,  at 
which  great  dismay  hath  seized  us.  And  because  thou  better 
knowest  his  ways,  tell  us  now  what  is  his  pleasure,  for  albeit  we 
might  wish  to  do  otherwise,  this  is  not  a  time  wherein  anything 
but  what  he  shall  command  can  be  done.  When  the  Almoxarife 
heard  this  he  made  answer,  Good  men,  it  is  easy  to  understand 
what  he  would  have,  and  to  do  what  should  be  done.  We  all 
know  the  great  treason  which  Abeniaf  committed  against  ye  all  in 
killing  your  Lord  the  King :  for  albeit  at  that  time  ye  felt  the  bur- 
den of  the  Christians,  yet  was  it  nothing  so  great  as  after  he  had 
killed  him,  neither  did  ye  suffer  such  misery.  And  since  God 
hath  brought  him  who  was  the  cause  to  this  state,  see  now  by  all 
means  how  ye  may  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of  the  Cid.  And 
fear  not,  neither  take  thought  for  the  rest ;  for  though  the  Cid  may 
do  his  pleasure  in  some  things,  better  is  it  to  have  him  for  Lord, 
than  this  traitor  who  hath  brought  so  much  evil  upon  ye.  More- 
over the  things  of  this  world  soon  pass  away,  and  my  heart  tells 
me  that  we  shall  ere  long  come  out  of  the  bondage  of  the  Cid,  and 
of  the  Christians,  for  the  Cid  is  well  nigh  at  the  full  of  his  days, 
and  we  who  remain  alive  after  his  death,  shall  then  be  masters  of 
our  city.  When  the  good  men  heard  what  he  said,  they  thanked 
him  much,  and  held  themselves  to  be  well  advised,  and  said  that 
they  would  do  willingly  what  he  bade  them :  and  they  returned 
forthwith  to  the  Cid,  and  said  unto  him  that  they  would  fulfil  his 
commandment.  Incontinently  did  the  good  men  dispeed  them- 
selves of  the  Cid,  and  they  went  into  the  city,  and  gathered  to- 
gether a  great  posse  of  armed  men,  and  went  to  the  place  where 
Abeniaf  dwelt ;  and  they  assaulted  the  house  and  brake  the  doors, 
and  entered  in  and  laid  hands  on  him,  and  his  son,  and  all  his 
company,  and  carried  them  before  the  Cid.  And  the  Cid  ordered 
Abeniaf  to  be  cast  into  prison,  and  all  those  who  had  taken  counsel 
with  him  for  the  death  of  King  Yahia. 

VII.  When  this  was  done,  the  Cid  said  unto  the  good  men, 
Now  that  ye  have  fulfilled  my  bidding,  I  hold  it  good  to  show 
favour  unto  you  in  that  which  ye  yourselves  shall  understand  to  be 
fitting  for  me  to  grant.  Say  therefore  what  ye  would  have,  and 


358  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

I  will  do  that  which  I  think  behoveth  me:  but  in  this  manner, 
that  my  dwelling  place  be  within  the  city  of  Valencia,  in  the 
Alcazar,  and  that  my  Christian  men  have  all  the  fortresses  in  the 
city.  And  when  the  good  men  heard  this,  they  were  greatly 
troubled ;  howbeit  they  dissembled  the  sorrow  which  they  re- 
sented, and  said  unto  him,  Sir  Cid,  order  it  as  you  think  good, 
and  we  consent  thereto.  Then  said  he  unto  them  that  he  would 
observe  towards  them  all  the  uses  and  customs  of  their  law,  and 
that  he  would  have  the  power,  and  be  Lord  of  all ;  and  they 
should  till  their  fields  and  feed  their  flocks  and  herds,  and  give 
him  his  tenth,  and  he  would  take  no  more.  When  the  Moors 
heard  this  they  were  well  pleased,  and  since  they  were  to  remain 
in  the  town,  and  in  their  houses  and  their  inheritances,  and  with 
their  uses  and  customs,  and  that  their  Mosques  were  to  be  left 
them,  they  held  themselves  not  to  be  badly  off.  Then  they  asked 
the  Cid  to  let  their  Guazil  be  the  same  as  he  had  first  appointed,  and 
that  he  would  give  them  for  their  Cadi  the  Alfaqui  Alhagi,  and  let 
him  appoint  whom  he  would  to  assist  him  in  distributing  justice  to 
the  Moors ;  and  thus  he  himself  would  be  relieved  of  the  weari- 
someness  of  hearing  them,  save  only  when  any  great  occasion 
might  befall.  This  Alhagi  was  he  who  made  the  lamentation  for 
Valencia,  as  ye  have  heard ;  and  when  the  Cid  was  peaceably 
established  in  Valencia,  he  was  converted,  and  the  Cid  made  him 
a  Christian.  And  the  Cid  granted  this  which  they  required,  and 
they  kissed  his  hand,  and  returned  into  the  town.  Nine  months 
did  the  Cid  hold  Valencia  besieged,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
it  fell  into  his  power,  and  he  obtained  possession  of  the  walls,  as 
ye  have  heard.  And  one  month  he  was  practising  with  the  Moors 
that  he  might  keep  them  quiet,  till  Abeniaf  was  delivered  into  his 
hands ;  and  thus  ten  months  were  fulfilled,  and  they  were  fulfilled 
on  Thursday  the  last  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  the  era  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  thirty  and  one,  which  was  in  the  year  one 
thousand  ninety  and  three  of  the  Incarnation  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  And  when  the  Cid  had  finished  all  his  dealings  with  the 
Moors,  on  this  day  he  took  horse  with  all  his  company  in  good 
array,  his  banner  being  carried  before  him,  and  his  arms  behind  : 
and  in  this  guise,  with  great  rejoicings,  he  entered  the  city  of 
Valencia.  And  he  alighted  at  the  Alcazar,  and  gave  order  to 
lodge  all  his  men  round  about  it,  and  he  bade  them  plant  his 
banner  upon  the  highest  tower  of  the  Alcazar.  Glad  was  the 
Campeador,  and  all  they  who  were  with  him,  when  they  saw  his 
banner  planted  in  that  place.  And  from  that  day  forth  was  the  Cid 


RUDRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  359 

possessed  of  all  the  Castles  and  fortresses  which  were  in  the  king- 
dom of  Valencia,  and  established  in  what  God  had  given  him,  and 
he  and  all  his  people  rejoiced. 

VIII.  On  the  morrow  the  Cid  sent  Abeniaf  to  Juballa,  and  they 
gave  him  great  tortures  till  he  was  at  the  point  of  death ;  and  they 
kept  him  there  two  days,  and  then  brought  him  to  Valencia  to  the 
Garden  of  the  Cid,  and  the  Cid  gave  order  that  he  should  write 
with  his  own  hand  an  account  of  all  that  he  had.  And  he  did 
this,  and  wrote  down  the  carcanets,  and  rings,  and  costly  garments, 
and  rich  apparel  which  he  had,  and  also  many  other  precious 
household  things,  and  the  debts  which  were  due  unto  him.  This 
the  Cid  did  that  he  might  see  if  all  was  there  which  Abeniaf  had 
taken  when  he  slew  the  King  his  Master ;  and  the  writing  was 
read  before  the  Cid.  And  the  Cid  sent  for  certain  Moors  who 
were  good  and  honourable  men,  and  made  Abeniaf  be  brought 
before  him,  and  demanded  of  him  if  he  had  nothing  more  than 
what  was  there  written  down ;  and  he  answered  that  he  had  not : 
and  he  bade  him  swear  this  before  the  Moors,  and  Abeniaf  swore 
accordingly.  Then  the  Cid  sent  privily  to  make  search  in  all  the 
houses  of  the  friends  of  Abeniaf,  swearing  unto  them,  that  if  they 
had  anything  of  his  and  denied  it,  and  it  should  afterwards  be 
discovered,  he  would  put  them  to  death,  and  moreover  take  from 
them  all  that  they  had.  And  they  when  they  heard  this,  partly  in 
the  fear  of  the  Cid,  and  partly  that  they  might  find  favour  with 
him,  brought  each  of  them  great  riches,  saying,  Sir,  Abeniaf  gave 
us  this  in  keeping,  that  if  it  might  be  saved  he  might  share  it  with 
us.  And  he  gave  order  to  search  and  dig  in  the  houses  of  Abe- 
niaf, and  they  found  great  treasure  there  in  gold  and  in  silver,  and 
in  pearls,  and  in  precious  stones,  all  which  a  servant  discovered 
unto  them.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  it  all  before  him  it  pleased 
him  much,  and  he  called  for  the  Moors  before  whom  Abeniaf  had 
taken  the  oath,  and  he  took  his  seat  upon  the  estrado  full  nobly, 
and  there  in  the  presence  of  Christians  and  Moors  he  ordered 
Abeniaf  and  all  the  other  prisoners  to  be  brought  forth.  And  he 
bade  that  Alfaqui  whom  he  had  made  Cadi,  and  the  other  good 
men,  judge  by  what  death  he  who  had  slain  his  Lord  deserved  to 
die,  according  to  their  law,  and  who  moreover  was  perjured,  for  he 
had  sworn  that  he  possessed  nothing  more  than  what  he  had  set 
down  in  the  writing ;  and  the  Cadi  and  the  other  Moors  said  that 
according  to  their  law,  he  and  his  accomplices  should  be  stoned  : 
This,  they  said,  we  find  in  our  law,  but  you  will  do  as  you  think 
good.  Nevertheless  we  ask  mercy  of  you  for  his  son,  who  is  but 


360  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

a  child ;  may  it  please  you  to  set  him  free,  for  he  hath  no  fault  in 
what  his  father  hath  done.  And  the  Cid  answered,  that  for  the 
love  of  them  he  pardoned  the  child,  but  that  he  should  depart 
from  the  city,  for  he  would  not  have  the  son  of  a  traitor  dwell 
therein.  And  he  commanded  them  that  they  should  stone  Abe- 
niaf  and  all  them  who  had  taken  counsel  with  him  for  the  death 
of  the  King,  according  as  they  had  given  sentence.  Then  the 
honourable  Moors  rose  and  kissed  his  feet  and  his  hands  for  the 
mercy  which  he  had  shown  to  the  son  of  Abeniaf;  and  they  took  out 
Abeniaf  to  stone  him,  and  other  twenty  and  two  with  him.  And 
the  Cid  bade  them  come  again  to  him  on  the  morrow,  and  he 
would  appoint  what  should  be  the  manner  of  his  dwelling  among 
them. 

IX.  That  night  the  Cid  spake  with  Alvar  Fanez  and  with  Pero 
Bermudez,  and  all  them  who  were  of  his  council,  and  they  resolved 
in  what  manner  they  would  live  among  the  Moors.  And  on  the 
morrow  the  honourable  Moors  of  Valencia  assembled  together  in 
the  Alcazar  as  they  had  been  commanded  to  do,  and  the  Cid  took 
his  seat  upon  the  estrado,  and  all  the  honourable  men  round  about 
him,  and  he  spake  unto  them  after  this  manner :  Good  men  of  the 
Aljama  of  Valencia,  ye  know  how  I  served  and  defended  King 
Yahia  your  Lord,  and  ye  also,  until  his  death.  And  I  had  great 
sorrow  for  him,  and  strove  to  revenge  him,  as  ye  know,  and  en- 
dured great  hardships  in  winning  Valencia.  And  since  God  hath 
thought  it  good  that  I  should  be  Lord  thereof,  I  will  have  it  for 
myself,  and  for  those  who  have  holpen  me  to  win  it,  saving  the 
sovereignty  of  King  Don  Alfonso  of  Castile,  my  Lord,  whom 
God  preserve  for  his  service  long  and  happy  years.  Ye  are 
all  now  in  my  power,  to  do  with  ye  whatever  I  will,  both  with 
your  persons  and  your  riches,  and  your  wives  and  your  children ; 
but  I  will  not  do  thus.  And  I  hold  it  good  that  the  honoiuable 
men  among  ye  who  have  alway  been  loyal,  remain  in  the  city 
in  their  dwellings  and  with  all  their  family :  and  that  none 
among  ye  keep  more  than  one  beast,  which  shall  be  a  mule, 
and  that  ye  do  not  use  arms,  neither  have  them  in  your  pos- 
session, except  when  it  is  needful  and  I  shall  give  command. 
And  all  the  rest  of  the  people  shall  go  out  of  the  town  and 
dwell  in  the  suburb  of  Alcudia,  where  I  was  wont  to  be.  Ye  shall 
have  two  Mosques,  one  in  the  city  and  one  in  the  suburb ;  and  ye 
shall  have  your  Alfaquis  and  follow  your  own  law ;  and  ye  shall 
have  your  Cadiz,  and  your  Guazil,  as  I  have  appointed ;  and  ye 
shall  have  your  inheritances,  and  pay  me  the  tenth  of  the  fruits 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAK.  361 

thereof  as  your  service  ;  and  the  power  of  justice  shall  be  mine, 
and  I  will  order  such  money  to  be  coined  as  I  shall  think  good. 
Do  ye  therefore  who  are  minded  to  abide  with  me  in  the  land, 
abide  :  and  let  those  who  are  not,  go,  in  God's  name,  and  good 
luck  with  them,  but  they  shall  take  only  their  own  persons,  and  I 
will  give  command  to  see  them  escorted  in  safety.  When  the 
Moors  of  Valencia  heard  this  they  were  full  sorrowful :  howbeit  it 
was  now  a  time  when  they  could  do  no  otherwise  than  as  he  com- 
manded. And  incontinently  they  began  to  go  out  of  the  city  with 
their  wives  and  children,  all  except  those  whom  the  Cid  had  com- 
manded to  abide  there ;  and  as  the  Moors  went  out  the  Christians 
who  dwelt  in  Alcudia  entered  in.  And  the  history  saith,  that  so 
great  was  the  multitude  which  departed,  that  they  were  two  whole- 
days  in  going  out.  Great  was  the  joy  of  the  Cid  and  his  people 
that  day,  and  from  thenceforward  he  was  called  My  Cid  the  Cam- 
peador,  Lord  of  Valencia. 

X.  Now  was  it  bruited  abroad  throughout  all  lands,  how  the 
Cid  Ruydiez  had  won  the  noble  city  of  Valencia.  And  when  Ali 
Abenaxa  the  Adelantado  of  the  Almoravides  knew  it,  he  sent  his 
son-in-law  the  King  of  Seville  to  besiege  him  in  Valencia,  and  gave 
him  thirty  thousand  men  at  arms.  And  this  King  came  in  great 
haste  to  Valencia,  and  besieged  the  Cid  therein.  And  the  Cid 
made  ready  with  all  his  people,  and  went  out  to  fight  him.  And 
the  battle  was  nigh  unto  Valencia,  beside  the  garden  which  is  called 
the  Garden  of  Villa  Nueva ;  and  it  was  a  good  battle,  and  at 
length  he  of  the  good  fortune  conquered  ;  and  the  pursuit  contin- 
ued as  far  as  Xativa ;  even  so  far  did  the  Christians  pursue  them, 
smiting  and  slaying.  And  at  the  passage  of  the  Xucar  there  might 
you  have  seen  confusion,  and  there  the  Moors  without  liking  it  drank 
plenty  of  water.  They  say  that  fifteen  thousand  Moors  died  in  the 
river ;  and  the  King  of  Seville  fled  with  three  great  blows.  This 
day  did  Martin  Pelaez  the  Asturian  approve  himself  a  right  good 
one  :  there  was  no  knight  so  good  that  day  in  arms  as  he,  nor  who 
bore  away  such  honour.  And  when  the  pursuit  was  ended  the  Cid 
'returned  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  ordered  the  spoils  of  the  field 
and  of  the  tents  to  be  collected.  Be  it  known  that  this  was  a  prof- 
itable day's  work.  Every  foot  soldier  shared  a  hundred  marks  of 
silver  that  day.  And  the  Cid  returned  full  honourably  to  Valencia. 
Great  was  the  joy  of  the  Christians  in  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  he  who 
was  born  in  a  good  hour.  His  beard  was  grown,  and  continued 
to  grow  a  great  length.  My  Cid  said  of  his  chin,  For  the  love  of 
King  Don  Alfonso,  who  hath  banished  me  from  his  land,  no  scis- 


362  CHRONICLE    OF  THE   CID, 

sors  shall  come  upon  it,  nor  shall  a  hair  be  cut  away,  and  Moors 
and  Christians  shall  talk  of  it. 

XL  That  night  the  Cid  took  counsel  with  Alvar  Fanez,  who 
departed  not  from  his  side,  and  with  the  other  honourable  men 
who  were  of  his  counsel,  concerning  what  should  be  done  :  for 
now  that  his  people  were  all  rich,  he  feared  lest  they  should  return 
into  their  own  country,  for  my  Cid  saw  that  if  they  might  go  they 
would.  And  Minaya  advised  him  that  he  should  cause  proclama- 
tion to  be  made  through  the  city,  that  no  man  should  depart  with- 
out permission  of  the  Cid,  and  if  any  one  went  who  had  not  dis- 
peeded  himself  and  kissed  his  hand,  if  he  were  overtaken  he 
should  lose  all  that  he  had,  and  moreover  be  fixed  upon  a  stake. 
And  that  they  might  be  the  more  certain,  he  said  unto  Minaya 
that  he  would  take  account  of  all  the  people  who  were  with  him, 
both  horsemen  and  foot,  and  Pero  Bermudez  and  Martin  Antoline/ 
made  the  roll ;  and  there  were  found  a  thousand  knights  of  line- 
age, and  five  hundred  and  fifty  other  horsemen,  and  of  foot  soldiers 
four  thousand,  besides  boys  and  others  ;  thus  many  were  the  peo- 
ple of  my  Cid,  he  of  Bivar.  And  his  heart  rejoiced,  and  he  smiled 
and  said,  Thanks  be  to  God,  Minaya,  and  to  Holy  Mary  Mother  ! 
...  we  had  a  smaller  company  when  we  left  the  house  of 
Bivar  ! 

XII.  At  this  time  there  came  a  crowned  one  from  the  parts  of 
the  East,  that  is  to  say,  one  who  was  shaven  and  shorn ;  his  name 
was  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  a  full  learned  man  and  a  wise, 
and  one  who  was  mighty  both  on  horseback  and  a-foot :  and  he 
came  inquiring  for  the  Cid,  wishing  that  he  might  see  himself 
with  the  Moors  in  the  field,  for  if  he  could  once  have  his  fill  of 
smiting  and  slaying  them,  Christians  should  never  lament  him. 
And  when  the  Cid  knew  this  it  pleased  him  in  his  heart,  and  he 
took  horse  and  went  to  visit  him,  and  rejoiced  greatly  that  he  was 
come ;  and  he  resolved  to  make  Valencia  a  bishopric  and  give  it 
to  this  good  Christian.  And  they  took  counsel,  and  it  was  that  on 
the  morrow  the  Bishop  and  his  clergy  should  turn  the  Mosques 
into  Churches,  wherein  they  might  sing  masses,  and  sacrifice  the 
body  of  Jesus  Christ.  And  rents  were  appointed  for  the  table  of 
the  Bishop  and  for  his  Canons,  and  for  all  the  clergy  in  the  city  of 
Valencia.  And  nine  parish  Churches  were  made.  And  the  great- 
est was  called  St.  Pedro's,  and  another  was  called  St.  Mary  of  the 
Virtues.  This  was  near  the  Alcazar,  and  there  the  Cid  went  often- 
est  to  hear  service.  After  this  manner  the  Cid  ordered  his  city 
that  it  should  be  a  Bishopric,  for  the  honour  of  the  Catholic  faith. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  363 

God!    how  joyful   was   all   Christendom   that  there   was  a  Lord 
Bishop  in  the  land  of  Valencia  ! 

XIII.  Now  the  Cid  bethought  him  of  Dona  Ximena  his  wife, 
and  of  his  daughters  Dona  Elvira  and  Dona  Sol,  whom  he  had  left 
in  the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena;   and  he  called,  for 
Alvar  Fanez  and  Martin  Antolinez  of  Burgos,  and  spake  with  them, 
and  besought  them  that  they  would  go  to  Castile,  to  King  Don 
Alfonso  his  Lord,  and  take  him  a  present  from  the  riches  which 
God  had  given  them  ;  and  the  present  should  be  a  hundred  horses, 
saddled  and  bridled ;  and  that  they  would  kiss  the  King's  hand 
for  him,  and  beseech  him  to  send  him  his  wife  Dona  Ximena,  and 
his  daughters,  and  that  they  would  tell  the  King  all  the  mercy 
which  God  had  shown  him,  and  how  he  was  at  his  service  with 
Valencia  and  with  all  that  he  had.     Moreover  he  bade  them  take 
a  thousand  marks  of  silver  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Car- 
dena, and  give  them  to  the  abbot,  and  thirty  marks  of  gold  for  his 
wife  and  daughters,  that  they  might  prepare  themselves  and  come 
in  honourable  guise.     And   he  ordered  three  hundred  marks  of 
gold  to  be  given  them,  and  three  hundred  marks  of  silver,  to  re- 
deem the  chests  full  of  sand  which  he  had  pledged  in  Burgos  to 
the  Jews ;  and  he  bade  them  ask  Rachel  and  Vidas  to  forgive  him 
the  deceit  of  the  sand,  for  he  had  done  it  because  of  his  great 
need  :  and  he  said,  You,  Martin  Antolinez,  were  aiding  and  abet- 
ting herein,  but  praised  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for  ever,  he  hath 
let  me  quit  myself  truly ;  tell  them  that  they  shall  have  more  profit 
than  they  asked.    And  he  bade  them  each  take  with  him  his  whole 
company,  that  they  might  be  better  advised  and  accompanied,  and 
that  Dona  Ximena  might  come  with  the  greater  honour  :  and  the 
company  was  this  :  two  hundred  knights  who  were  of  Don  Alvar 
Fanez,  and  fifty  of  Martin  Antolinez  :  and  he  ordered  money  to  be 
given  them  for  their  disbursement,  and  for  all  things  needful,  in 
abundance. 

XIV.  Alvar  Fanez  and  Martin  Antolinez  went  their  way,  and 
they  found  the  King  in  the  city  of  Palencia.     When  they  arrived 
he  was  coming   from  mass,  and  seeing  this  goodly  company  of 
horsemen  he  stopped  in  the  church  porch,  and  asked  who  they 
were.     And  it  was  told  him  that  they  were  people  of  the  Cid,  who 
came  to  him  with  a  full  great  present.    And  Alvar  Fanez  and  Mar- 
tin Antolinez  alighted,  and  came  to  the  King,  and  kissed  his  hand  : 
and  he  received  them  right  well,  and  said.  What  tidings  bring  ye 
me  of  the  Cid,  my  true  vassal,  the  most  honourable  knight  that 
ever  was  knighted  in  Castile  ?     NVell  was  Minaya  pleased  when  he 


364  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

heard  this,  and  he  said,  A  boon,  Sir  King  Don  Alfonso,  for  the 
love  of  your  Maker  !  My  Cid  sendeth  to  kiss  your  hands  and  your 
feet,  as  his  natural  Lord,  at  whose  service  he  is,  and  from  whom 
he  expecteth  much  bounty  and  good.  You  banished  him  from  the 
land ;  but  though  in  another's  country,  he  hath  only  done  you  ser- 
vice. Five  pitched  battles  hath  he  won  since  that  time,  some  with 
Moors  and  some  with  bad  Christians  ;  and  he  hath  taken  Xerica, 
and  Ondra,  and  Almenar,  and  Monviedro  which  is  a  bigger  place, 
and  Cebola  also,  and  Castrejon,  and  Pena  Cadiella  which  is  a  strong 
eminence,  and  with  all  the  right  noble  city  of  Valencia,  for  the 
honour  of  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  you  our  Lord  and  King ; 
and  he  hath  made  it  a  Bishopric,  and  made  the  honourable  Don 
Hieronymo  Bishop  thereof  with  his  own  hand.  And  behold  here 
are  a  hundred  horses  of  the  spoils  which  he  hath  won ;  they  are 
great  and  swift,  and  all  are  bridled  and  saddled,  and  he  kisseth 
your  hand  and  beseecheth  you  as  his  natural  Lord  to  receive  them. 
When  the  King  heard  this  he  was  greatly  astonished,  and  he  lifted 
up  his  right  hand  and  blessed  himself,  and  said,  As  St.  Isidro  shall 
keep  me,  I  rejoice  in  the  good  fortune  of  the  Cid,  and  receive  his 
gift  full  willingly.  But  though  this  pleased  the  King  it  did  not 
please  Garci  Ordonez,  and  he  said,  It  seemeth  there  is  not  a  man 
left  in  the  land  of  the  Moors,  that  the  Cid  can  thus  do  his  pleas4 
ure  !  And  the  King  said  unto  him,  Hold  thy  peace,  for  in  all  things 
he  serves  me  better  than  thou.  Then  Alvar  Fafiez  kissed  the 
King's  hand  again,  and  said,  Sir,  the  Cid  beseecheth  you  of  your 
bounty  that  he  may  have  his  wife  Dona  Ximena  and  his  two  daugh- 
ters, that  they  may  go  to  Valencia  unto  him,  from  the  Monastery 
where  he  left  them,  for  it  is  many  days  since  he  saw  them,  and  if 
it  please  you  this  would  rejoice  him.  And  the  King  made  answer. 
It  pleases  me  well,  and  I  will  give  them  a  guard  throughout  my 
dominions,  that  they  may  be  conducted  honourably  to  the  border  : 
when  they  have  passed  it,  the  Campeador  himself  will  look  to  them. 
And  he  said,  Hear  me  !  all  those  whom  I  have  disseized  of  their 
inheritances  for  following  the  Campeador,  I  restore  again  to  the 
possession  thereof,  and  all  those  who  desire  to  serve  him  I  freely 
licence :  let  them  go  in  the  grace  of  God.  Moreover  the  King 
said,  I  grant  him  Valencia  and  all  that  he  hath  won  and  shall  win 
hereafter,  that  he  be  called  Lord  thereof,  and  that  he  hold  it  of  no 
other  Lordship  save  of  me,  who  am  his  liege  Lord.  Alvar  Fane/, 
and  Martin  Antolinez  kissed  his  hand  for  this  in  the  Cid's  name. 
And  the  King  called  a  porter,  who  should  go  with  them,  bearing  a 
writing  from  the  King,  that  all  things  needful  should  be  given  unto 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   RfV'AR.  365 

them  so  long  as  they  were  in  his  lands.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  and 
Martin  Antolinez  dispeeded  themselves  of  the  King,  and  took  their 
way  towards  Burgos. 

XV.  When  they  reached  Burgos  they  sent  for  Rachel  and  for 
Vidas,  and  demanded  from  them  the  chests,  and  paid  unto  them 
the  three  hundred  marks  of  gold  and  the  three  hundred  of  silver 
as  the  Cid  had  commanded,  and  they  besought  them  to  forgive 
the  Cid  the  deceit  of  the  chests,  for  it  was  done  because  of  his 
great  necessity.  And  they  said  they  heartily  forgave  him,  and  held 
themselves  well  paid ;  and  they  prayed  God  to  grant  him  long  life 
and  good  health,  and  to  give  him  power  to  advance  Christendom, 
and  put  down  Pagandom.  And  when  it  was  known  through  the 
city  of  Burgos  the  goodness  and  the  gentleness  which  the  Cid 
had  shown  to  these  merchants  in  redeeming  from  them  the  chests 
full  of  sand  and  earth  and  stones,  the  people  held  it  for  a  great 
wonder,  and  there  was  not  a  place  in  all  Burgos  where  they  did 
not  talk  of  the  gentleness  and  loyalty  of  the  Cid ;  and  they  be- 
sought blessings  upon  him,  and  prayed  that  he  and  his  people  might 
be  advanced  in  honour.  When  they  had  done  this,  they  went  to 
the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  and  the  porter  of  the  King 
went  with  them,  and  gave  order  everywhere  that  everything  which 
they  wanted  should  be  given  them.  If  they  were  well  received, 
and  if  there  was  great  joy  in  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena  over  th*m,  it  is 
not  a  thing  to  ask,  for  Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters  were  like 
people  beside  themselves  with  the  great  joy  which  they  had,  and 
they  came  running  out  on  foot  to  meet  them,  weeping  plenteously  for 
great  joy.  And  Alvar  Fanez  and  Martin  Antolinez,  when  they  saw 
them  coming,  leaped  off  their  horses,  and  went  to  them,  and  Minaya 
embraced  Dona  Ximena  and  both  his  cousins,  Dona  Elvira  and 
Dona  Sol,  and  so  great  was  the  rejoicing  which  they  made  together 
that  no  man  can  tell  it  you.  And  when  this  great  joy  was  some- 
what abated,  Dona  Ximena  asked  how  the  Cid  fared,  for  since  he 
had  parted  from  her  she  had  heard  no  news  of  him.  And  Alvar 
Fanez  said  he  had  left  him  safe  and  sound  in  Valencia ;  and  he 
bade  her  and  her  daughters  thank  God  for  the  great  favour  that 
he  had  shown  him,  for  he  had  won  sundry  castles  from  the  Moors, 
and  the  noble  city  of  Valencia,  whither  he  was  now  come  to  carry 
her  and  her  daughters,  for  the  Cid  had  sent  for  them,  and  when 
he  should  see  them  his  heart's  desire  would  be  accomplished. 
When  Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters  heard  this,  they  set  their 
knees  to  the  ground,  and  lifted  up  their  hands  and  thanked  God 
for  the  favour  he  had  shown  to  the  Cid,  and  to  them  with  him,  in 


366  CHRONICLE  or  ?'///:  cm, 

giving  him  the  Lordship  of  Valencia.  While  they  were  preparing 
for  the  journey,  Alvar  Fanez  sent  three  knights  to  the  Cid  to  tell 
him  how  they  had  sped  with  the  King,  and  of  the  great  favour 
which  they  had  found  at  his  hands,  and  how  he  only  tarried  now 
to  equip  Dona  Ximena,  that  she  might  come  full  honourably. 
That  good  one  Minaya  then  began  to  deck  them  out  for  the  jour- 
ney with  the  best  trappings  which  could  be  found  in  Burgos  :  right 
noble  garments  did  he  provide  for  them,  and  a  great  company  of 
damsels,  and  good  palfreys,  and  great  mules,  which  were  not  bad 
ones.  And  he  gave  the  Abbot  the  thousand  marks  of  silver  which 
the  Cid  had  sent  for  the  Monastery,  with  which  to  discharge  all 
the  debt  that  Dona  Ximena  and  his  daughters  had  contracted. 
Great  was  the  stir  throughout  all  that  land  of  the  honour  of  the 
Cid,  and  of  the  licence  which  the  King  gave  to  as  many  as  should 
choose  to  join  him  ;  and  for  this  reason  full  sixty  knights  came  to 
St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  and  a  great  number  of  squires  on  foot.  Don 
Alvar  Fanez  was  well  pleased  to  see  them,  and  he  promised  them 
that  he  would  obtain  the  Cid's  grace  for  them,  and  would  befriend 
them  all  he  could.  Gr»at  dole  did  the  Abbot  make  when  they 
departed ;  and  he  said,  As  God  shall  help  you,  Minaya,  kiss 
the  hand  of  the  Campeador  for  me.  This  Monastery  will  never 
forget  him,  to  pray  for  him  every  day  in  the  year.  The  Cid  will 
always  prosper  more  and  more.  Minaya  promised  to  do  this,  and 
dispeeded  himself,  and  they  went  their  way.  Five  days  they  trav- 
elled, and  then  they  came  to  Medina  Celi ;  and  alway  the  porter 
of  the  King  was  with  them,  and  made  all  that  they  wanted  be  given 
unto  them,  even  as  the  King  had  commanded. 

XVI.  Now  the  three  knights  whom  Alvar  Fanez  had  sent,  came 
to  the  Cid  and  delivered  their  message.  When  my  Cid  heard  it 
his  heart  rejoiced  and  he  was  glad,  and  he  spake  with  his  mouth 
and  said,  He  who  sends  good  messengers  looks  for  good  tidings. 
Blessed  be  the  name  of  God,  since  King  Don  Alfonso  rejoices 
in  my  good  fortune.  And  he  called  for  Muno  Gustios,  and 
Pero  Bermudez,  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  bade 
them  take  a  hundred  knights  lest  there  should  be  need  to  fight, 
and  go  to  Molina,  to  Abencano,  who  was  his  friend  and  vassal, 
and  bid  him  take  another  hundred  knights,  and  go  with  them 
to  Medina  Celi  as  fast  as  they  could  go.  There,  said  he,  ye 
will .  find  Alvar  Fanez  and  my  wife  and  daughters  ;  bring  them 
to  me  with  great  honour :  I  will  remain  here  in  Valencia  which 
has  cost  me  so  much ;  great  folly  would  it  be  if  I  were  to  leave 
.it;  I  will  remain  in  it}  for  I  hold  it  for  my  heritage.  And  they 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BfVAR.  367 

did  as  he  commanded  them.  And  when  they  came  to  Molina, 
Abencano  received  them  right  well,  and  did  them  great  honour ; 
and  though  the  Cid  had  bidden  him  take  only  one  hundred  horse, 
he  took  two.  On  the  morrow  they  went  to  horse :  they  crossed 
the  mountains  which  are  great  and  wild,  and  they  passed  Mata  de 
Toranz  without  fear,  and  they  thought  to  come  through  the  valley 
of  Arbuxedo.  There  was  good  look  out  kept  in  Medina,  and  Alvar 
Fanez  sent  two  knights  to  know  who  they  were.  They  made  no 
tarriance  in  doing  this,  for  they  had  it  at  heart ;  one  tarried  with 
them,  and  the  other  returned,  and  said  it  was  the  host  of  the  Cam- 
peador  with  Pero  Bermudez,  and  Muno  Gustios,  and  the  Bishop 
Hieronymo,  and  the  Alcayaz  Abencano.  This  instant,  said  Minaya, 
let  us  to  horse  ;  incontinently  this  was  done,  for  they  would  make 
no  delay.  And  they  rode  upon  goodly  horses  with  bells  at  their 
poitrals  and  trappings  of  sandal  silk,  and  they  had  their  shields 
round  their  necks,  and  lances  with  streamers  in  their  hands.  Oh, 
how  Alvar  Fanez  went  out  from  Castile  with  these  ladies !  They 
who  pricked  forward,  couched  their  spears  and  then  raised  them, 
and  great  joy  was  there  by  Salon  where  they  met.  The  others 
humbled  themselves  to  Minaya  :  when  Abencano  came  up  he  kissed 
him  on  the  shoulder,  for  such  was  his  custom.  In  a  good  day, 
Minaya,  said  he,  do  you  bring  these  ladies,  the  wife  and  daughters 
of  the  Cid,  whom  we  all  honour.  Whatever  ill  we  may  wish  him 
we  can  do  him  none  ;  .  .  in  peace  or  in  war  he  will  have  our  wealth, 
and  he  must  be  a  fool  who  does  not  acknowledge  this  truth.  Al- 
var Fanez  smiled  and  told  him  he -should  lose  nothing  by  this  ser- 
vice which  he  had  done  the  Cid ;  and  now,  said  he,  let  us  go  rest, 
for  the  supper  is  ready.  Abencano  said  he  was  well  pleased  to 
partake  it,  and  that  within  three  days  he  would  return  him  the  en- 
tertainment twofold.  Then  they  entered  Medina,  and  Minaya 
served  them  ;  all  were  full  glad  of  the  service  which  they  had 
undertaken,  and  the  King's  porter  paid  for  all.  The  night  is 
gone,  morning  is  come,  mass  is  said,  and  they  go  to  horse.  They 
left  Medina  and  passed  the  river  Salon,  and  pricked  up  Arbuxuelo, 
and  they  crossed  the  plain  of  Torancio.  That  good  Christian  the 
Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  night  and  day  here  guarded  the  ladies  ; 
on  a  goodly  horse  he  rode,  and  they  went  between  him  and  Alvar 
Fanez.  They  came  to  Molina  and  they  were  lodged  in  a  good  and 
rich  house,  and  Abencano  the  Moor  waited  on  them.  Nothing 
did  they  want  which  they  could  wish  to  have  :  he  even  had  all  their 
beasts  new  shod,  and  for  Minaya  and  the  ladies,  Lord  !  how  he 
honoured  them  !  On  the  morrow  they  left  Molina,  and  the  Moor 


368  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

went  with  them.  When  they  were  within  three  leagues  of  Valencia, 
news  of  their  coming  was  brought  to  the  Cid.  Glad  was  the  Cid, 
never  was  he  more  joyful,  never  had  he  such  joy,  for  tidings  were 
come  to  him  of  what  he  loved  best.  Two  hundred  knights  did  he 
order  out  to  meet  them,  others  he  bade  to  keep  the  Alcazar,  and  the 
other  high  towers,  and  all  the  gates  and  entrances.  And  he  com- 
manded that  they  should  bring  him  Bavieca.1  It  was  but  a  short 
time  since  he  had  won  this  horse ;  my  Cid,  he  who  girt  on  sword 
in  a  happy  hour,  did  not  yet  know  if  he  was  a  good  goer,  and  if 
he  stopped  well.  The  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  he  pricked  for- 
ward and  entered  the  city.  He  left  his  horse  and  went  to  the 
Church,  and  collected  all  the  clergy ;  they  put  on  their  surplices, 
and  with  crosses  of  silver  went  out  to  meet  the  ladies,  and  that 
good  one  Minaya.  He  who  was  born  in  happy  hour  made  no  tar- 
riance ;  they  saddled  him  Bavieca,  and  threw  his  trappings  on. 
My  Cid  wore  light  armour,  and  his  surcoat  over  it :  long  was  his 
beard.  He  went  out  upon  this  horse,  and  ran  a  career  with  him  ; 
Bavieca  was  the  name  of  the  horse,  and  when  he  was  running  all 
marvelled  at  him  :  from  that  day  Bavieca  was  famous  all  over  Spain. 
At  the  end  of  the  course  my  Cid  alighted  and  went  toward  his  wife 
and  his  daughters.  Who  can  tell  the  joy  that  was  made  at  their 
meeting?  They  fell  at  his  feet,  and  their  joy  was  such  that  they 
could  not  speak.  And  he  raised  them  up  and  embraced  them, 
and  kissed  them  many  times,  weeping  for  joy  that  he  saw  them 
alive.  Hear  what  he  said  who  was  born  in  happy  hour  !  You 
dear  and  honoured  wife,  and  ye  my  daughters,  my  heart  and  my 
soul ;  enter  with  me  into  Valencia  ;  .  .  this  is  the  inheritance  which 
I  have  won  for  you.  While  they  were  thus  rejoicing  the  Bishop 
Don  Hieronymo  came  with  the  procession.  Dona  Ximena  brought 
good  relics  and  other  sacred  things,  which  she  gave  to  ennoble 
the  new  church  of  Valencia.  In  this  guise  they  entered  the  city. 
Who  can  tell  the  rejoicings  that  were  made  that  day,  throwing  at 
the  board,  and  killing  bulls !  My  Cid  led  them  to  the  Alcazar, 
and  took  them  up  upon  the  highest  tower  thereof,  and  there  they 
looked  around  and  beheld  Valencia,  how  it  lay  before  them,  and 
the  great  Garden  with  its  thick  shade,  and  the  sea  on  the  other 
side  ;  and  they  lifted  up  their  hands  to  thank  God.  Great  honour 
did  the  Cid  do  to  Abencano  the  Lord  of  Molina,  for  all  the  service 
which  he  had  done  to  Dona  Ximena.  Then  said  Abencano,  This, 

1  This  is  the  first  mention  of  this  famous  horse  in  the  Poem :  an  old  history 
to  which  Berganza  often  refers  as  beginning  with  King  Fruela,  says  Bayieca  was 
won  in  the  battle  with  the  King  of  Seville,  which  may  well  agree  with  the  Poem. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  RITAR.  369 

Sir,  I  was  bound  to  do,  for  since  I  have  been  your  vassal  I  have 
alway  been  respected,  and  defended  from  all  my  enemies,  and 
maintained  in  good  estate ;  how  then  should  I  do  otherwise  than 
serve  you  ?  If  I  did  not,  I  should  lack  understanding.  And  the 
Cid  thanked  him  for  what  he  had  done,  and  what  he  had  said,  and 
promised  also  to  show  favour  unto  him.  And  Abencano  took  his 
leave  and  returned  to  Molina. 

XVII.  The  winter  is  passed,  and  March  is  coming  in.     Three 
months  Dona  Ximena  had  been  in  Valencia,  when  tidings  came  to 
the  Cid  from  beyond  sea,  that  King  Yucef,  the  son  of  the  Mirama- 
molin,  who  dwelt  in  Morocco,  was  coming  to  lay  siege  unto  Valen- 
cia with  fifty  thousand  men.     When  the  Cid  heard  this  he  gave 
command  to  store  all  his  Castles,  and  had  them  well  repaired. 
And  he  had  the  walls  of  the  city  prepared,  and  stored  it  well  with 
food  and  with  all  things  needful  for  war,  and  gathered  together  a 
great  power  of   Christians  and  of  the   Moors   of  his   seignory. 
Hardly  had  he  done  this  before  he  heard  that  Yucef  was  near  at 
hand,  and  coming  as  fast  as  he  could  come.    Then  the  Cid  assem- 
bled together  the  Christians  in  the  Alcazar,  and  when  they  were 
assembled,  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  said,  Friends  and  kinsmen 
and  vassals,  praised  be  God  and  holy  Mary  Mother,  all  the  good 
which  I  have  in  the  world  I  have  here  in  Valencia;  with  hard 
labour  I  won  the  city,  and  hold  it  for  my  heritage,  and  for  nothing 
less  than  death  will  I  leave  it.     My  daughters  and  my  wife  shall 
see  me  fight,  .  .  .  they  shall  see  with  their  own  eyes  our  manner 
of  living  in  this  land,  and  how  we  get  our  bread.     We  will  go  out 
against  the  Moors  and  give  them  battle,  and  God  who  hath  thus 
far  shown  favour  unto   us  will   still  continue  to  be  our  helper. 
When  they  heard  this  they  cried  out  with  one  accord  that  they 
would  do  his  bidding,  and  go  out  with  him  and  fight  under  his 
banner,  for  certain  they  were  that  by  his  good  fortune  the  Moors 
would  be  overthrown. 

XVIII.  On  the  morrow  the  Cid  took  Dona  Ximena  by  the  hand, 
and  her  daughters  with  her,  and  made  them  go  up  upon  the  high- 
est tower  of  the  Alcazar,  and  they  looked  toward  the  sea  and  saw 
the  great  power  of  the  Moors,  how  they  came  on  and  drew  nigh, 
and  began  to  pitch  their  tents  round  about  Valencia,  beating  their 
tambours  and  with  great  uproar.     And  Ximena's  heart  failed  her, 
and  she  asked  the  Cid  if  peradventure  God  would  deliver  him 
from  these  enemies.     Fear  not,  honoured  woman,  said  he ;  you 
are  but  lately  arrived,  and  they  come  to  bring  you  a  present,  which 
shall  help  marry  your  daughters.     Fear  not,  for  you  shall  see  me 


370  CI1ROXICI.E    O/'    THE    (7/\ 

fight  by  the  help  of  God  and  holy  Mary  Mother ;  my  heart  kin- 
dles because  you  are  here  !  the  more  Moors  the  more  gain.  The 
tambours  sounded  now  with  a  great  alarum,  and  the  sun  was 
shining  .  .  .  Cheer  up,  said  my  Cid  ;  .  .  this  is  a  glorious  day. 
But  Ximena  was  seized  with  such  fear  as  if  her  heart  would  have- 
broken  ;  she  and  her  daughters  had  never  been  in  such  fear  since 
the  day  that  they  were  born.  Then  the  good  Cid  Campeadoi 
stroked  his  beard  and  said,  Fear  not,  all  this  is  for  your  good. 
Before  fifteen  days  are  over,  if  it  please  God,  those  tambours  shall 
be  laid  before  you,  and  shall  be  sounded  for  your  pleasure,  and 
then  they  shall  be  given  to  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  that  he 
may  hang  them  up  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary,  Mother  of  God. 
This  vow  the  Cid  Campeador  made.  Now  the  Moors  began  to 
enter  the  gardens  which  were  round  about  the  town,  and  the 
watchmen  saw  them  and  struck  the  bell.  My  Cid  looked  back 
and  saw  Alvar  Salvadores  beside  him,  and  he  said,  Go  now,  take 
two  hundred  horse,  and  sally  upon  yonder  Moors  who  are  entering 
the  gardens ;  let  Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters  see  the  good 
will  you  have  to  serve  them.  Down  went  Alvar  Salvadores  in  great 
haste,  and  ordered  a  bell  to  be  rung  which  was  a  signal  for  two 
hundred  knights  to  make  ready ;  for  the  history  saith,  that  the  Cid, 
by  reason  that  he  was  alway  in  war,  had  appointed  such  signals  for 
his  people,  that  they  knew  when  one  hundred  were  called  for,  and 
when  two,  and  so  forth.  Presently  they  were  ready  at  the  place 
of  meeting,  and  the  gate  was  opened  which  was  nearest  the  gar- 
dens where  the  Moors  had  entered,  without  order ;  and  they  fell 
fiercely  upon  them,  smiting  and  slaying.  Great  was  the  pleasure 
of  the  Cid  at  seeing  how  well  they  behaved  themselves.  And 
Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters  stood  trembling,  like  women  who 
had  never  seen  such  things  before  ;  and  when  the  Cid  saw  it  he 
made  them  seat  themselves,  so  as  no  longer  to  behold  it.  Great 
liking  had  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  to  see  how  bravely  they 
fought.  Alvar  Salvadores  and  his  companions  bestirred  themselves 
so  well  that  they  drove  the  enemy  to  their  tents,  making  great 
mortality  among  them,  and  then  they  turned  back,  whereat  my  C'id 
was  well  pleased  ;  but  Alvar  Salvadores  went  on,  hacking  and  hew- 
ing all  before  him,  for  he  thought  the  ladies  were  looking  on,  and 
he  pressed  forward  so  far,  that  being  without  succour  he  was  taken. 
The  others  returned  to  the  city,  falling  back  in  brave  order  till  they 
were  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy :  and  they  had  done  no  little  in 
that  exploit,  for  they  slew  above  two  hundred  and  fifty  Moors. 
When  my  Cid  saw  that  they  who  eat  his  bread  were  returned,  he 


ROD  RICO    DIAZ   DE   BH'AR.  371 

went  down  from  the  tower,  and  received  them  right  well,  and 
praised  them  for  what  they  had  done  like  good  knights  :  howbeit 
he  was  full  sorrowful  for  Alvar  Salvadores  that  he  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  Moors,  but  he  trusted  in  God  that  he  should  deliver 
him  on  the  morrow. 

XIX.  And  the  Cid  assembled  his  chief  captains  and  knights  and 
people,  and  said  unto  them,  Kinsmen  and  friends  and  vassals,  hear 
me  :  to-day  has  been  a  good  day,  and  to-morrow  shall  be  a  better. 
Be  you  all  armed  and  ready  in  the  dark  of  the  morning ;  mass 
shall  be  said,  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  will  give  us  absolu- 
tion, and  then  we  will  to  horse,  and  out  and  smite  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Creator  and  of  the  Apostle  Santiago.      It  is  fitter 
that  we  should  live  than  that  they  should  gather  in  the  fruits  of 
this  land.     But  let  us  take  counsel  in  what  manner  we  may  go 
forth,  so  as  to  receive  least  hurt,  for  they  are  a  mighty  power,  and 
we  can  only  defeat  them  by  great  mastery  in  war.     When  Alvar 
Fanez  Minaya  heard  this  he  answered  and  said,  Praised  be  God 
and  your  good  fortune,  you  have  achieved  greater  things  than  this, 
and  I  trust  in  (rod's  mercy  that  you  will  achieve  this  also.     Give 
me  three  hundred  horse,  and  we  will  go  out  when  the  first  cock 
crows,  and  put  ourselves  in  ambush  in  the  valley  of  Albuhera  ;  and 
when  you  have  joined  battle  we  will  issue  out  and  fall  upon  them 
on  the  other  side,  and  on  one  side  or  the  other  God  will  help  us. 
Well  was  the  Cid  pleased  with  this  counsel,  and  he  said  that  it 
should  be  so ;  and  he  bade  them  feed  their  horses  in  time  and  sup 
early,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  cock<-crow  come  to  the  Church  of  St. 
Pedro,  and  hear  mass,  and  shrive  themselves,  and  communicate, 
and  then  take  horse  in  the  name  of  the  Trinity,  that  the  soul  of 
him  who  should  die  in  the  business  might  go  without  let  to  God. 

XX.  Day  is  gone,  and  night  is  come.     At  cock-crow  they  all 
assembled  together  in  the  Church  of  St.  Pedro,  and  the  Bishop 
Don  Hieronymo  sung  mass,  and  they  were  shriven  and  assoyled, 
and  howselled.     Great  was  the  absolution  which  the  Bishop  gave 
them :  He  who  shall  die,  said  he,  fighting  face  forward,  I  will  take 
his  sins,  and  God  shall  have  his  soul.     Then  said  he,  A  boon,  Cid 
Don  Rodrigo;  I  have  sung  mass  to  you  this  morning:   let  me 
have  the  giving  the  first  wounds  in  this  battle  !  and  the  Cid  granted 
him  this  boon  in  the  name  of  God.     Then  being  all  ready  they 
went  out  through  the  gate  which  is  called  the  Gate  of  the  Snake, 
for  the  greatest  power  of  the  Moors  was  on  that  side,  leaving  good 
men  to  guard  the  gates.     Alvar   Fanez   and   his   company  were 
already  gone  forth,  and  had  laid  their  ambush.     Four  thousand, 


372  CHROXICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

lacking  thirty,  were  they  who  went  out  with  my  ('id,  with  a  good 
will,  to  attack  fifty  thousand.  They  went  through  all  the  narrow 
places,  and  bad  passes,  and  leaving  the  ambush  on  the  left,  struck 
to  the  right  hand,  so  as  to  get  the  Moors  between  them  and 
the  town.  And  the  Cid  put  his  battles  in  good  array,  and  bade 
Pero  Bermudez  bear  his  banner.  When  the  Moors  saw  this  they 
were  greatly  amazed  ;  and  they  harnessed  themselves  in  great 
haste,  and  came  out  of  their  tents.  Then  the  Cid  bade  his  ban- 
ner move  on,  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  pricked  forward 
with  his  company,  and  laid  on  with  such  guise,  that  the  hosts  were 
soon  mingled  together.  Then  might  you  have  seen  many  a 
horse  running  about  the  field  with  the  saddle  under  his  belly,  and 
many  a  horseman  in  evil  plight  upon  the  ground.  Great  was  the 
smiting  and  slaying  in  short  time  ;  but  by  reason  that  the  Moors 
were  so  great  a  number,  they  bore  hard  upon  the  Christians,  and 
were  in  the  hour  of  overcoming  them.  And  the  Cid  began  to  en- 
courage them  with  a  loud  voice,  shouting  God  and  Santiago  ! 
And  Alvar  Fanez  at  this  time  issued  out  from  ambush,  and  fell 
upon  them,  on  the  side  which  was  nearest  the  sea ;  and  the 
Moors  thought  that  a  great  power  had  arrived  to  the  Cid's  suc- 
cour, and  they  were  dismayed  and  began  to  fly.  And  the  Cid 
and  his  people  pursued,  punishing  them  in  a  bad  way.  If  we 
should  wish  to  tell  you  how  every  one  behaved  himself  in  this 
battle,  it  is  a  thing  which  could  not  be  done,  for  all  did  so  well 
that  no  man  can  relate  their  feats.  And  the  Cid  Ruydiez  did  so 
well,  and  made  such  mortality  among  the  Moors,  that  the  blood 
ran  from  his  wrist  to  his  elbow  !  great  pleasure  had  he  in  his  horse 
Bavieca  that  day,  to  find  himself  so  well  mounted.  And  in  the 
pursuit  he  came  up  to  King  Yucef,  and  smote  him  three  times  : 
but  the  King  escaped  from  under  the  sword,  for  the  horse  of  the 
Cid  passed  on  in  his  course,  and  when  he  turned,  the  King  being 
on  a  fleet  horse  was  far  off,  so  that  he  might  not  be  overtaken  ; 
and  he  got  into  a  Castle  called  Guyera,  for  so  far  did  the  Chris- 
tians pursue  them,  smiting  and  slaying,  and  giving  them  no  respite, 
so  that  hardly  fifteen  thousand  escaped  of  fifty  that  they  were. 
They  who  were  in  the  ships,  when  they  saw  this  great  overthrow, 
fled  to  Denia. 

XXI.  Then  the  Cid  and  his  people  returned  to  the  field  and 
began  to  plunder  the  tents.  And  the  spoil  was  so  great  that  there 
was  no  end  to  the  riches,  in  gold  and  in  silver,  and  in  horses  and 
arms,  so  that  men  knew  not  what  to  leave  and  what  to  take.  And 
they  found  one  tent  which  had  been  King  YucePs;  never  man- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BtVAR.  373 

saw  so  noble  a  thing  as  that  tent  was  ;  and  there  were  great 
riches  therein,  and  there  also  did  they  find  Alvar  Salvadores,  who 
had  been  made  prisoner  the  yesterday,  as  ye  have  heard.  Greatly 
did  the  Cid  rejoice  when  he  saw  him  alive  and  sound,  and  he 
ordered  his  chains  to  be  taken  off :  and  then  he  left  Alvar  Fanez 
to  look  to  the  spoil,  and  went  into  Valencia  with  a  hundred 
knights.  His  wrinkled  brow  was  seen,  for  he  had  taken  off  his 
helmet,  and  in  this  manner  he  entered,  upon  Bavieca,  sword  in 
hand.  Great  joy  had  Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters  who  were 
awaiting  him,  when  they  saw  him  come  riding  in  ;  and  he  stopped 
when  he  came  to  them,  and  said,  Great  honour  have  I  won  for 
you,  while  you  kept  Valencia  this  day  !  God  and  the  Saints  have 
sent  us  goodly  gain,  upon  your  coming.  Look,  with  a  bloody- 
sword,  and  a  horse  all  sweat,  this  is  the  way  that  we  conquer  the 
Moors  !  Pray  God  that  I  may  live  yet  awhile  for  your  sakes,  and 
you  shall  enter  into  great  honour,  and  they  shall  kiss  your  hands. 
Then  my  Cid  alighted  when  he  had  said  this,  and  the  ladies  knelt 
down  before  him,  and  kissed  his  hand,  and  wished  him  long  life. 
Then  they  entered  the  Palace  with  him,  and  took  their  seats  upon 
the  precious  benches.  Wife  Dona  Ximena,  said  he,  these  damsels 
who  have  served  you  so  well,  I  will  give  in  marriage  to  these  my 
vassals,  and  to  every  one  of  them  two  hundred  marks  of  silver,  that 
it  may  be  known  in  Castile  what  they  have  got  by  their  services. 
Your  daughters'  marriage  will  come  in  time.  And  they  all  rose 
and  kissed  his  hand  ;  and  great  was  the  joy  in  the  Palace,  and  it 
was  done  according  as  the  Cid  had  said. 

XXII.  Alvar  Fanez  this  while  was  in  the  field  writing  and  taking 
account  of  the  spoil :  but  the  tents  and  arms  and  precious  gar- 
ments were  so  many  that  they  cannot  be  told,  and  the  horses  were 
beyond  all  reckoning;  they  ran  about  the  field,  and  there  was 
nobody  to  take  them,  and  the  Moors  of  the  land  got  something 
by  that  great  overthrow.  Nevertheless  so  many  horses  were  taken 
that  the  Campeador  had  to  his  share  of  the  good  ones  a  thousand 
and  five  hundred.  Well  might  the  others  have  good  store  when 
he  had  so  many.  And  my  Cid  won  in  this  battle  from  King  Yucef, 
his  good  sword  Tizona,  which  is  to  say,  the  firebrand.  The  tent 
of  the  King  of  Morocco,  which  was  supported  by  two  pillars 
wrought  with  gold,  he  gave  order  not  to  be  touched,  for  he  would 
send  it  to  Alfonso  the  Castilian.  The  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  that 
perfect  one  with  the  shaven  crown,  he  had  his  fill  in  that  battle, 
fighting  with  both  hands  ;  no  one  could  tell  how  many  he  slew. 
Great  booty  came  to  him,  and  moreover  the  Cid  sent  him  the 


374  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

tithe  of  his  fifth.  Glad  were  the  Christian  folk  in  Valencia  for  the 
great  booty  which  they  had  gotten,  and  glad  was  Dona  Xirnena 
and  her  daughters,  and  glad  were  all  those  ladies  who  were  married. 

XXIII.  King  Yucef,  after  the  pursuit  was  given  over,  and  he  saw 
that  he  might  come  forth  from  the  Castle,  fled  to  Denia,  and  em- 
barked in  his  ships,  and  returned  to  Morocco.     And  thinking  every 
day  how  badly  he  had  sped,  and  how  he  had  been  conquered  by 
so  few,  and  how  many  of  his  people  he  had  lost,  he  fell  sick  and 
died.     But  before  he  died  he  besought  his  brother,  who  was  called 
Bucar,  that  for  the  tie  there  was  between  them,  he  would  take- 
vengeance  for  the  dishonour  which  he  had  received  from  the  ('id 
Campeador  before  Valencia ;  and  Bucar  promised  to  do  this,  and 
swore  also  upon  the  Koran,  which  is  the  book  of  their  law.     And 
accordingly  he  came  afterwards  across  the  sea,  with  nine  and 
twenty  Kings,  as  shall  be  related  when  the  time  comes. 

XXIV.  Then  the  Cid  sent  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  with 
a  present  to  King  Alfonso  his  Lord.     And  the  present  which  he 
sent  was  two  hundred  horses  saddled  and  bridled,  with  each  a 
sword  hanging  from  the  saddle-bow  :  and  also  the  noble  tent  which 
he  had  won  from  King  Yucef  of  Morocco.     This  present  he  gave, 
because  the  King  had  sent  him  his  wife  and  daughters  when  he  asked 
for  them,  and  because  of  the  honour  which  he  had  done  them,  and 
that  the  King  might  not  speak  ill  of  him  who  commanded  in  Valen- 
cia.     Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  went  their  way  towards 
Castile,  over  sierras  and  mountains  and  waters  ;  and  they  asked 
where  the  King  was,  and  it  was  told  them  that  he  was  at  Valladolid, 
and  thither  they  went.    And  when  they  drew  nigh  unto  the  city,  they 
sent  to  let  him  know  of  their  coming,  and  to  ask  of  him  whether  he 
thought  it  good  for  them  to  come  into  the  city  unto  him,  or  if  he 
would  come  out  to  them,  for  they  were  a  great  company,  and  the 
present  a  full  great  one,  which  he  would  see  better  without,  than  in 
the  town.     And  the  King  thought  this  best,  and  he  went  to  horse, 
and  bade  all  the  hidalgos  who  were  with  him  do  the  like.    Now  the 
Infantes  of  Carrion  were  there,  Diego  Gonzalez,  and  Ferrando  Gon- 
zalez, the  sons  of  Count  Don  Gonzalo.     And  they  found  the  com- 
pany of  the  Cid  about  half  a  league  from  the  town,  and  when  the 
King  saw  how  many  they  were,  he  blessed  himself,  for  they  seemed 
like  a  host.     And  Minaya  and  Pero  Bermudez  pricked  on  when 
they  saw  him,  and  came  before  him,  and  alighted,  and  knelt  down, 
and  kissed  the  ground  and  kissed  both  his  feet :  and  he  bade  them 
rise  and  mount  their  horses,  and  would  not  hear  them  till  they  had 
mounted,  and  taken  their  places  one  at  his  right  hand,  and  the 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  375 

other  at  his  left.  And  they  said,  Sir,  the  Cid  commends  himself 
to  your  grace  as  his  liege  Lord,  and  thanks  you  greatly  for  having 
sent  him  with  such  honour  his  wife  and  daughters.  And  know, 
Sir,  that  since  they  arrived,  he  hath  achieved  a  great  victory  over 
the  Moors,  and  their  King  Yucef  of  Morocco,  the  Miramamolin, 
who  besieged  him  in  Valencia  with  fifty  thousand  men.  And  he 
went  out  against  them,  and  smote  them,  and  hath  sent  you  these 
two  hundred  horses  from  his  fifth.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  gave  order 
that  the  horses  should  be  led  forward.  And  this  was  the  manner 
in  which  they  came.  The  two  hundred  horses  came  first,  and 
every  one  was  led  by  a  child,  and  every  one  had  a  sword  hanging 
from  the  saddle,  on  the  left  side ;  and  after  them  came  the  pages 
of  all  the  knights  in  company,  carrying  their  spears,  and  then  the  com- 
pany, and  after  them  an  hundred  couple  with  spears  in  rest.  And 
when  they  had  all  passed  by,  the  King  blessed  himself  again,  and 
he  laughed  and  said  that  never  had  so  goodly  a  present  been  sent 
before  to  King  of  Spain  by  his  vassal.  And  Alvar  Fanez  said  more- 
over, Sir,  he  hath  sent  you  a  tent,  the  noblest  that  ever  man  saw, 
which  he  won  in  this  battle  :  and  the  King  gave  order  that  the 
tent  should  be  spread,  and  he  alighted  and  went  into  it,  he  and  all 
his  people,  and  he  was  greatly  pleased  ;  and  they  all  said  that  they 
had  never  seen  so  noble  a  tent  as  this ;  and  the  King  said  he  had 
won  many  from  the  Moors,  but  never  such  as  this.  But  albeit 
that  all  the  others  were  well  pleased,  Count  Don  Garcia  was  not 
so  ;  and  he  and  ten  of  his  lineage  talked  apart,  and  said  that  this 
which  the  Cid  had  done  was  to  their  shame,  for  they  hated  the  Cid 
in  their  hearts.  And  King  Don  Alfonso  said,  Thanks  be  to  God 
and  to  Sir  Saint  Isidro  of  Leon,  these  horses  may  do  me  good  ser- 
vice ;  and  he  gave  three  of  them  to  Minaya,  and  Pero  Bermudez, 
and  bade  them  choose,  and  he  ordered  food  and  clothing  to  be 
given  them  while  they  remained,  and  said  that  he  would  give  them 
complete  armour  when  they  returned,  such  as  was  fit  for  them  to 
appear  in  before  my  Cid.  And  they  were  lodged,  and  all  things 
that  were  needful  provided  for  them  and  their  people. 
'  XXV.  When  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  Diego  Gonzalez  and  Fer- 
rando  Gonzalez,  saw  the  noble  present,  which  the  Cid  had  sent 
unto  the  King,  and  heard  how  his  riches  and  power  daily  increased, 
and  thought  what  his  wealth  must  needs  be  when  he  had  given 
those  horses  out  of  the  fifth  of  one  battle,  and  moreover  that  he 
was  Lord  of  Valencia  :  they  spake  one  with  the  other,  and  agreed, 
that  if  the  Cid  would  give  them  his  daughters  to  wife,  they  should 
be  well  married,  and  become  rich  and  honourable.  And  they 


376  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

agreed  together  that  they  would  talk  with  the  King  in  private  upon 
this  matter.  And  they  went  presently  to  him,  and  said,  Sir,  we 
beseech  you  of  your  bounty  to  help  us  in  a  thing  which  will  be  to 
your  honour ;  for  we  are  your  vassals,  and  the  richer  we  are  the 
better  able  shall  we  be  to  serve  you.  And  the  King  asked  of  them 
what  it  was  they  would  have,  and  they  then  told  him  their  desire. 
And  the  King  thought  upon  it  awhile,  and  then  came  to  them, 
and  said,  Infantes,  this  thing  which  you  ask  lies  not  in  me,  but  in 
the  Cid ;  for  it  is  in  his  power  to  marry  his  daughters,  and  perad- 
venture  he  will  not  do  it  as  yet.  Nevertheless  that  ye  may  not  fail 
for  want  of  my  help,  I  will  send  to  tell  him  what  ye  wish.  Then 
they  kissed  his  hand  for  this  favour.  And  the  King  sent  for  Alvar 
Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez,  and  went  apart  with  them,  and  praised 
the  Cid,  and  thanked  him  for  the  good  will  which  he  had  to  do 
him  service,  and  said  that  he  had  great  desire  to  see  him.  Say  to 
him,  he  said,  that  I  beseech  him  to  come  and  meet  me,  for  I  would 
speak  with  him  concerning  something  which  is  to  his  good  and 
honour.  Diego  and  Ferrando,  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  have  said 
unto  me  that  they  would  fain  wed  with  his  daughters,  if  it  seemeth 
good  to  him  ;  and  methinks  this  would  be  a  good  marriage.  When 
Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  heard  this,  they  answered  the 
King,  and  said,  Certain  we  are,  Sir,  that  neither  in  this,  nor  in  any- 
thing else  will  the  Cid  do  aught  but  what  you,  Sir,  shall  command 
or  advise.  When  ye  have  your  meeting  ye  will  agree  concerning 
it  as  is  best.  Then  they  kissed  his  hand,  and  took  their  leave. 

XXVI.  On  the  morrow  the  messengers  of  the  Cid  departed  from 
Valladolid,  and  took  their  way  towards  Valencia ;  and  when  the 
Cid  knew  that  they  were  nigh  at  hand  he  went  out  to  meet  them, 
and  when  he  saw  them  he  waxed  joyful ;  and  he  embraced  them, 
and  asked  what  tiding  of  his  Lord  Alfonso.  And  they  told  him  how 
they  had  sped,  and  how  greatly  the  King  loved  him  ;  and  when 
we  departed,  said  they,  he  bade  us  beseech  you  to  come  and  meet 
him  anywhere  where  you  will  appoint,  for  he  desireth  to  speak  with 
you,  concerning  the  marriage  of  your  daughters  with  the  Infantes 
of  Carrion,  if  it  should  please  you  so  to  bestow  them :  now  by 
what  the  King  said  it  seemeth  unto  us  that  this  marriage  pleaseth 
him.  And  when  the  Cid  heard  this  he  became  thoughtful,  and  he 
said  to  them  after  awhile,  What  think  ye  of  this  marriage?  And 
they  answered  him,  Even  as  it  shall  please  you.  And  he  said  to 
them,  I  was  banished  from  my  own  country,  and  was  dishonoured, 
and  with  hard  labour  gained  I  what  I  have  got ;  and  now  I  stand 
in  the  King's  favour,  and  he  asketh  of  me  my  daughters  for  the 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  377 

Infantes  of  Carrion.  They  are  of  high  blood  and  full  orgullous, 
and  I  have  no  liking  to  this  match ;  but  if  our  Lord  the  King  ad- 
viseth  it  we  can  do  no  otherwise :  we  will  talk  of  this,  and  God 
send  it  for  the  best.  So  they  entered  Valencia,  and  the  Cid  spake 
with  Dona  Ximena  touching  this  matter,  and  when  she  heard  it  it 
did  not  please  her ;  nevertheless  she  said,  if  the  King  thought  it 
good  they  could  do  no  otherwise.  Then  the  Cid  gave  order  to 
write  letters  to  the  King,  saying,  that  he  would  meet  the  King  as 
he  commanded,  and  whatever  the  King  wished  that  he  would  do. 
And  he  sealed  the  letters  well,  and  sent  two  knights  with  them. 
And  when  the  King  saw  the  letters  he  was  well  pleased,  and  sent 
others  to  say  that  the  time  of  their  meeting  should  be  three  weeks 
after  he  received  these  letters,  and  the  place  appointed  was  upon 
the  Tagus,  which  is  a  great  river. 

XXVII.  Now  began  they  to  prepare  on  both  sides  for  this  meet- 
ing. He  who  should  relate  to  you  the  great  preparations,  and  the 
great  nobleness  which  were  made  for  the  nonce,  would  have  much 
to  recount.  Who  ever  saw  in  Castile  so  many  a  precious  mule, 
and  so  many  a  good-going  palfrey,  and  so  many  great  horses,  and 
so  many  goodly  streamers  set  upon  goodly  spears,  and  shields 
adorned  with  gold  and  with  silver,  and  mantles,  and  skins,  and 
rich  sendals  of  Adria  ?  The  King  sent  great  store  of  food  to  the 
banks  of  the  Tagus,  where  the  place  of  meeting  was  appointed. 
Glad  were  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  and  richly  did  they  bedight 
themselves ;  some  things  they  paid  for,  and  some  they  went  in 
debt  for  :  great  was  their  company,  and  with  the  King  there  were 
many  Leonese  and  Galegos,  and  Castilians  out  of  number.  My 
Cid  the  Campeador  made  no  tarriance  in  Valencia;  he  made 
ready  for  the  meeting  :  there  was  many  a  great  mule,  and  many  a 
palfrey,  and  many  a  good  horse,  and  many  a  goodly  suit  of  arms, 
cloaks,  and  mantles  both  of  cloth  and  of  peltry ;  .  .  great  and 
little  are  all  clad  in  colours.  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  Pero  Ber- 
mudez,  and  Martin  Munoz,  and  Martin  Antolinez  that  worthy  Bur- 
galese,  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  that  good  one  with  the 
Shaven  crown,  and  Alvar  Alvarez,  and  Alvar  Salvadores,  and  Muno 
Gustios  that  knight  of  prowess,  and  Galind  Garcia  of  Arragon  ;  all 
these  and  all  the  others  made  ready  to  go  with  the  Cid.  But  he 
bade  Alvar  Salvadores  and  Galind  Garcia  and  all  those  who  were 
under  them,  remain  and  look  with  heart  and  soul  to  the  safety  of 
Valencia,  and  not  open  the  gates  of  the  Alcazar  neither  by  day  nor 
by  night,  for  his  wife  and  daughters  were  there,  in  whom  he  had 
his  heart  and  soul,  and  the  other  ladies  with  them  ;  he  like  a  good 


378  CHRONICLE    OF  THE   CW, 

husband  gave  order  that  not  one  of  them  should  stir  out  of  the 
Alcazar  till  he  returned.  Then  they  left  Valencia  and  pricked  on 
more  than  apace  ;  more  than  a  thousand  knights,  all  ready  for 
war,  were  in  this  company.  All  those  great  horses  that  paced  so 
well  and  were  so  soft  of  foot,  my  Cid  won ;  they  were  not  given 
to  him. 

XXVIII.  King  Don  Alfonso  arrived  first  by  one  day  at  the  place 
of  meeting,  and  when  he  heard  that  the  Cid  was  at  hand,  he  went 
out  with  all  his  honourable  men,  more  than  a  long  league  to  meet 
him.  When  he  who  was  born  in  a  good  hour  had  his  eye  upon 
the  King,  he  bade  his  company  halt,  and  with  fifteen  of  the  knights 
whom  he  loved  best  he  alighted,  and  put  his  hands  and  his  knees 
to  the  ground,  and  took  the  herbs  of  the  field  between  his  teeth, 
as  if  he  would  have  eaten  them,  weeping  for  great  joy ;  .  .  thus 
did  he  know  how  to  humble  himself  before  Alfonso  his  Lord  ;  and 
in  this  manner  he  approached  his  feet  and  would  have  kissed  them. 
And  the  King  drew  back  and  said,  The  hand,  Cid  Campeador,  not 
the  foot !  And  the  Cid  drew  nigh  upon  his  knees  and  besought 
grace,  saying,  In  this  guise  grant  me  your  love,  so  that  all  present 
may  hear.  And  the  King  said  that  he  forgave  him,  and  granted 
him  his  love  with  his  heart  and  soul.  And  the  Cid  kissed  both  his 
hands,  being  still  upon  his  knees ;  and  the  king  embraced  him, 
and  gave  him  the  kiss  of  peace.  Well  pleased  were  all  they  \vh<> 
beheld  this,  save  only  Alvar  Diez  and  Garcia  Ordonez,  for  they  did 
not  love  the  Cid.  Then  went  they  all  toward  the  town,  the  King 
and  the  Cid  talking  together  by  the  way.  And  the  Cid  asked  the 
King  to  eat  with  him,  and  the  King  answered,  Not  so,  for  ye  are 
not  prepared ;  we  arrived  yesterday,  and  ye  but  now.  Eat  you 
and  your  company  therefore  with  me,  for  we  have  made  ready. 
To-day,  Cid  Campeador,  you  are  my  guest,  and  to-morrow  we  will 
do  as  pleases  you.  Now  came  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  up  and 
humbled  themselves  before  the  Cid,  and  he  received  them  well, 
and  they  promised  to  do  him  service.  And  the  company  of  the 
Cid  came  up  and  kissed  the  King's  hand.  So  they  alighted  and 
went  to  meat ;  and  the  King  said  unto  the  Cid  that  he  should  eat 
with  him  at  his  table  ;  howbeit  he  would  not.  And  when  the 
King  saw  that  he  would  not  take  his  seat  with  him,  he  ordered  a 
high  table  to  be  placed  for  the  Cid  and  for  Count  Don  Gonzalo, 
the  father  of  the  Infantes  of  Carrion.  All  the  while  that  they  ate 
the  King  could  never  look  enough  at  the  Cid,  and  he  marvelled 
greatly  at  his  beard,  that  it  had  grown  to  such  length.  And  when 
they  had  eaten  they  were  merry,  and  took  their  pleasure.  And  on 


RODRIGO  DIAZ   DE   RIVAR.  379 

the  morrow  the  King  and  all  they  who  went  with  him  to  this  meet- 
ing, ate  with  the  Cid,  and  so  well  did  he  prepare  for  them  that  all 
were  full  joyful,  and  agreed  in  one  thing,  that  they  had  not  eaten 
better  for  three  years.  There  was  not  a  man  there  who  did  not 
eat  upon  silver,  and  the  King  and  the  chief  persons  ate  upon 
dishes  and  trenchers  of  gold.  And  when  the  Infantes  saw  this 
they  had  the  marriage  more  at  heart  than  before. 

XXIX.    On  the  morrow  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  the  Bishop  Don 
Hieronymo  sung  mass  before  the  King,  in  the  oratory  of  the  Cid  ; 
and  when  it  was  over,  the  King  said  before  all  who  were  there 
assembled,  Counts  and  Infanzones  and  knights,  Hear  what  I  shall 
say  unto  the  Cid.     Cid  Ruydiez,  the  reason  wherefore  I  sent  for 
you  to  this  meeting  was  twofold  ;  first,  that  I  might  see  you,  which 
I  greatly  desired,  for  I  love  you  much  because  of  the  many  and 
great  services  which  you  have  done  me,  albeit  that  at  one  time  I 
was  wroth  against  you  and  banished  you  from  the  land.     But  you 
so  demeaned  yourself  that  you  never  did  me  disservice,  but  con- 
trariwise great  service  both  to  God  and  to  me,  and  have  won  Va- 
lencia, and  enlarged  Christendom,  wherefore  I  am  bound  to  show 
favour  unto  you  and  to  love  you  alway.     The  second  reason  was, 
that  I  might  ask  you  for  your  two  daughters  Dona  Elvira  and  Dona 
Sol,  that  you  would  give  them  in  marriage  to  the  Infantes  of  Car- 
rion, for  this  methinks  would  be  a  fit  marriage,  and  to  your  honour 
and  good.     When  the  Cid  heard  this,  he  was  in  a  manner  bound 
to  consent,  having  them  thus  demanded  from  him ;  and  he  an- 
swered and  said,  Sir,  my  daughters  are  of  tender  years,  and  if  it 
might  please  you,  they  are  yet  too  young  for  marriage.     I  do  not 
say  this  as  if  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  were  not  worthy  to  match 
with  them,  and  with  better  than  they.     And  the  King  bade  him 
make  no  excuse,  saying,  that  he  should  esteem  himself  well  served 
if  he  gave  his  consent.     Then  the  Cid  said,  Sir,  I  begat  them,  and 
you  give  them  in  marriage,  both  I  and  they  are  yours,  .  .  give 
them  to  whom  you  please,  and  I  am  pleased  therewith.    When  the 
King  heard  this  he  was  well  pleased,  and  he  bade  the  Infantes  kiss 
the  hand  of  the  Cid  Campeador,  and  incontinently  they  changed 
swords  before  the  King,  and  they  did  homage  to  him,  as  sons-in- 
law  to  their  father-in-law.     Then  the  King  turned  to  the  Cid,  and 
said,  I  thank  thee,  Ruydiez,  that  thou  hast  given  me  thy  daughters 
for  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  ;  and  here  I  give  them  to  the  Infantes 
to  be  their  brides  ;  I  give  them  and  not  you,  and  I  pray  God  that 
it  may  please  him,  and  that  you  also  may  have  great  joy  herein. 
The  Infantes  I  put  into  your  hands  ;  they  will  go  with  you,  and  I 


380  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CW, 

shall  return  from  hence,  and  I  order  that  three  hundred  marks  of 
silver  be  given  to  them  for  their  marriage,  and  they  and  your 
daughters  will  all  be  your  children. 

XXX.  Eight  days  this  meeting  lasted  ;  the  one  day  they  dined 
with  the  King,  and  the  other  with  the  Cid.   Then  was  it  appointed 
that  on  the  morrow  at  sunrise  every  one  should  depart  to  his  own 
home.     My  Cid  then  began  to  give  to  every  one  who  would  take 
his  gifts,  many  a  great  mule,  and  many  a  good  palfrey,  and  many 
a  rich  garment,  .  .  every  one  had  what  he  asked,  .  .  he  said  no 
to  none.     Threescore  horses  did  my  Cid  give  away  in  gifts ;  well 
pleased  were  all  they  who  went  to  that  meeting.     And  now  they 
were  about  to  separate,   for  it  was  night.     The  King  took  the 
Infantes  by  the  hand,  and  delivered  them  into  the  power  of  my 
Cid  the  Campeador,  .  .    See  here  your  sons  :  from  this  day,  Cam- 
peador,  you  will  know  what  to  make  of  them.     And  the  Cid  an- 
swered, Sir,  may  it  please  you,  seeing  it  is  you  who  have  made 
this  marriage  for  my  daughters,  to  appoint  some  one  to  whom  I 
may  deliver  them,  and  who  may  give  them,  as  from  your  hand,  to 
the  Infantes.     And  the  King  called  for  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and 
said,  You  are  sib  to  the  damsels  :  I  command  you,  when  you  come 
to  Valencia,  to  take  them  with  your  own  hands,  and  give  them  to 
the  Infantes,  as  I  should  do  if  that  I  were  there  present :  and  be 
you  the  brides'  father.     Then  said  the  Cid,  Sir,  you  must  accept 
something  from  me  at  this  meeting.     I  bring  for  you  twenty  pal- 
freys, these  that  are  gaily  trapped,  and  thirty  horses  fleet  of  foot, 
these  that   are  well  caparisoned,  .  .  take  them,  and  I  kiss  your 
hand.     Greatly  have  you  bound  me,  said  King  Don  Alfonso  :   I 
receive  this  gift,  and  God  and  all  Saints  grant  that  it  may  well  be 
requited ;  if  I  live  you  shall  have  something  from  me.     Then  my 
Cid  sprung  up  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  and  he  said,  Here  I  say  be- 
fore my  Lord  the  King,  that  if  any  will  go  with  me  to  the  wedding, 
I  think  they  will  get  something  by  it !  and  he  besought  the  King 
that  he  would  let  as  many  go  with  him  as  were  so  minded  ;  and 
the  King  licensed  them  accordingly.     And  when  they  were  about 
to  part,  the  company  that  went  with  the  Cid  was  greater  than  that 
which  returned  with  the  King.     And  the  Cid  kissed  the  King's 
hand  and  dispeeded  himself  with  his  favour,  and  the  King  returned 
to  Castile. 

XXXI.  My  Cid  went  his  way  towards  Valencia,  and  he  ap- 
pointed  Pero  Bermudez  and    Muno   Gustios,  than  whom    there 
were  no  better  two  in  all  his  household,  to  keep  company  with  the 
Infantes  of  Carrion  and  be  their  guard,  and  he  bade  them  spy  out 


RODKIGO   DIAZ   DE   RIVAR.  381 

what  their  conditions  were ;  and  this  they  soon  found  out.  The 
Count  Don  Suero  Gonzalez  went  with  the  Infantes ;  he  was  their 
father's  brother,  and  had  been  their  Ayo  and  bred  them  up,  and 
badly  had  he  trained  them,  for  he  was  a  man  of  great  words,  good 
of  tongue,  and  of  nothing  else  good ;  and  full  scornful  and  orgul- 
lous  had  he  made  them,  so  that  the  Cid  was  little  pleased  with 
them,  and  would  willingly  have  broken  off  the  marriage  ;  but  he 
could  not,  seeing  that  the  King  had  made  it.  And  when  they 
reached  Valencia,  the  Cid  lodged  the  Infantes  in  the  suburb  of 
Alcudia,  where  he  had  formerly  lodged  himself;  and  all  the  com- 
pany who  were  come  to  the  marriage  were  quartered  with  them. 
And  he  went  to  the  Alcazar. 

XXXII.  On  the  morrow  the  Cid  mounted  his  horse  and  rode 
into  Alcudia,  and  brought  the  Infantes  his  sons-in-law  from  thence 
with  him  into  the  city  to  the  Alcazar,  that  they  might  see  their 
brides  Dona  Elvira  and  Dona  Sol.  Dona  Ximena  had  her  daugh- 
ters ready  to  receive  them  in  full  noble  garments,  for  since  mid- 
night they  had  done  nothing  but  prink  and  prank  themselves. 
Full  richly  was  the  Alcazar  set  out  that  day,  with  hangings  both  above 
and  below,  purple  and  samite,  and  rich  cloth.  The  Cid  entered 
between  the  Infantes,  and  all  that  noble  company  went  in  after 
them ;  and  they  went  into  the  chief  hall  of  the  Alcazar,  where 
Dona  Ximena  was  with  her  daughters  ;  and  when  they  saw  the  Cid 
and  the  Infantes,  they  rose  up  and  welcomed  them  right  well. 
And  the  Cid  took  his  seat  upon  his  bench  with  one  of  the  Infantes 
on  one  side  of  him,  and  one  on  the  other,  and  the  other  honour- 
able men  seated  themselves  on  the  estrados,  each  in  the  place 
where  he  ought  to  be,  and  which  belonged  to  him  ;  and  they  re- 
mained awhile  silent.  Then  the  Cid  rose  and  called  for  Alvar 
Fanez  and  said,  Thou  knowest  what  my  Lord  the  King  com- 
manded ;  fulfil  now  his  bidding,  .  .  take  thy  cousins,  and  deliver 
them  to  the  Infantes,  for  it  is  the  King  who  gives  them  in  marriage, 
and  not  I.  And  Alvar  Fanez  arose  and  took  the  damsels  one  in 
each  hand,  and  delivered  them  to  the  Infantes,  saying,  Diego  Gon- 
zalez, and  Ferrando  Gonzalez,  I  deliver  unto  you  these  damsels, 
the  daughters  of  the  Cid  Campeador,  by  command  of  King  Don 
Alfonso  my  Lord,  even  as  he  commanded.  Receive  you  them  as 
your  equal  helpmates,  as  the  law  of  Christ  enjoineth.  And  the 
infantes  took  each  his  bride  by  the  hand,  and  went  to  the  Cid  and 
kissed  his.  hand,  and  the  same  did  they  to  their  mother  Dofia 
Ximena  Gomez  :  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  espoused  them, 
and  they  exchanged  rings.  When  this  was  done,  the  Cid  went 


1$2  C}lRONTCf.E   OF  THE   CfD, 

and  seated  himself  on  the  estrado  with  the  ladies,  he  and  Dona 
Ximena  in  the  middle,  and  beside  him  he  placed  Dona  Elvira  his 
eldest  daughter,  and  by  her,  her  spouse  the  Infante  Diego  Gon- 
zalez ;  and  Dona  Sol  was  seated  on  the  other  side,  by  her  mother, 
and  the  Infante  Ferrando  by  her.  And  when  they  had  solaced 
themselves  awhile,  the  Cid  said  that  now  they  would  go  eat,  and 
that  the  marriage  should  be  performed  on  the  morrow,  and  he 
besought  and  commanded  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  to  perform 
it  in  such  a  manner  that  no  cost  should  be  spared,  but  that  every- 
thing should  be  done  so  completely,  that  they  who  came  from 
Castile  to  this  wedding  might  alway  have  something  to  tell  of. 

XXXIII.  On  the  morrow  they  went  to  the  Church  of  St.  Mary, 
and  there  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  sat  awaiting  them,  and  he 
blessed  them  all  four  at  the  altar.  Who  can  tell  the  great  noble- 
ness which  the  Cid  displayed  at  that  wedding,  the  feasts  and  the 
bull-fights,  and  the  throwing  at  the  target,  and  the  throwing  canes, 
and  how  many  joculars  were  there,  and  all  the  sports  which  are 
proper  at  such  weddings?  As  soon  as  they  came  out  of  Church 
they  took  horse  and  rode  to  the  Glera ;  three  times  did  the  Cid 
change  his  horse  that  day ;  seven  targets  were  set  up  on  the 
morrow,  and  before  they  went  to  dinner  all  seven  were  broken. 
Fifteen  days  did  the  feasts  at  this  wedding  continue  ;  then  all 
they  who  had  come  there  to  do  honour  to  the  Cid  took  leave  of 
him  and  of  the  Infantes.  Who  can  tell  the  great  and  noble  gifts 
which  the  Cid  gave  to  them,  both  to  great  and  little,  each  accord- 
ing to  his  quality,  vessels  of  gold  and  silver,  rich  cloth,  cloaks,  furs. 
horses,  and  money  beyond  all  reckoning,  so  that  all  were  well 
pleased.  And  when  it  was  told  in  Castile  with  what  gifts  they 
who  had  been  to  the  wedding  were  returned,  many  were  they  who 
repented  that  they  had  not  gone  there. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   B1VAR.  383 


BOOK   VIII. 

I.  Now  the  history  relateth  that  Gilbert,  a  sage  who  wrote  the 
history  of  the  Moorish  Kings  who  reigned  in  Africa,  saith,  that 
Bucar  remembering  the  oath  which  he  had  made  to  his  brother 
King  Yucef,  how  he  would  take  vengeance  for  him  for  the  dis- 
honour which   he   had  -received   from   the  Cid   Ruydiez  before 
Valencia,  ordered   proclamation  to  be  made  throughout  all  the 
dominions  of  his  father,  and  gathered  together  so  great  a  power 
of  Moors,  that  among  the  Captains  of  his  host  there  were  twenty 
and  nine  Kings  ;  this  he  could  well  do,  for  his  father  was  Mira- 
mamolin,  which  is  as  much  as  to  say  Emperor.     And  when  he 
had  gathered  together  this  mighty  host,  he  entered  into  his  ships 
and  crossed  the  sea,  and  came  unto  the  port  of  Valencia,  and  what 
there  befel  him  with  the  Cid  the  history  shall  relate  in  due  time. 

II.  Two  years  after  their  marriage  did  the  Infantes  of  Carrion 
sojourn  in  Valencia  in  peace  and  pleasure,  to  their  own  great  con- 
tentment, and  their  uncle  Suero  Gonzalez  with  them  ;  and  at  the 
end  of  those  two  years,  there  came  to  pass  a  great  misadventure, 
by  reason  of  which  they  fell  out  with  the  Cid,  in  whom  there  was 
no  fault.     There  was  a  lion  in  the  house  of  the  Cid  who   had 
grown  a  large  one,  and  a  strong,  and  was  full  nimble  :  three  men 
had  the  keeping  of  this  lion,  and  they  kept  him  in  a  den  which 
was  in  a  court  yard,  high  up  in  the  palace  ;  and  when  they  cleansed 
the  court  they  were  wont  to  shut  him  up  in  his  den,  and  afterward 
to  open  the  door  that  he  might  come  out  and  eat :  the  Cid  kept 
him  for  his  pastime,  that  he  might  take  pleasure  with  him  when  he 
was  minded  so  to  do.     Now  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Cid  to  dine 
every  day  with  his  company,  and  after  he  had  dined,  he  was  wont 
to  sleep  awhile  upon  his  seat.     And  one  day  when  he  had  dined 
there  came  a  man  and  told  him  that  a  great  fleet  was  arrived  in 
the  port  of  Valencia,  wherein  there  was  a  great  power  of  the  Moors, 
whom  King  Bucar  had  brought  over,  the  son  of  the  Miramamolin 
of  Morocco.    And  when  the  Cid  heard  this,  his  heart  rejoiced  and 
he  was  glad,  for  it  was  nigh  three  years  since  he  had  had  a  battle 
with  the  Moors.     Incontinently  he  ordered  a  signal  to  be  made 


384  CHRONIClJ-i    OF  THE    C/D, 

that  all  the  honourable  men  who  were  in  the  city  should  assemble 
together.  And  when  they  were  all  assembled  in  the  Alcazar  and 
his  sons-in-law  with  them,  the  Cid  told  them  the  news,  and  took 
counsel  with  them  in  what  manner  they  should  go  out  against  this 
great  power  of  the  Moors.  And  when  they  had  taken  counsel  the 
Cid  went  to  sleep  upon  his  seat,  and  the  Infantes  and  the  others 
sat  playing  at  tables  and  chess.  Now  at  this  time  the  men  who 
were  keepers  of  the  lion  were  cleaning  the  court,  and  when  they 
heard  the  cry  that  the  Moors  were  coming,  they  opened  the  den, 
and  came  down  into  the  palace  where  the  Cid  was,  and  left  the 
door  of  the  court  open.  And  when  the  lion  had  ate  his  meat  and 
saw  that  the  door  was  open  he  went  out  of  the  court  and  came 
down  into  the  palace,  even  into  the  hall  where  they  all  were ;  and 
when  they  who  v/ere  there  saw  him,  there  was  a  great  stir  among 
them  ;  but  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  showed  greater  cowardice  than 
all  the  rest.  Ferrando  Gonzalez  having  no  shame,  neither  for  the 
Cid  nor  for  the  others  who  were  present,  crept  under  the  seat 
whereon  the  Cid  was  sleeping,  and  in  his  haste  he  burst  his  mantle 
and  his  doublet  also  at  the  shoulders.  And  Diego  Gonzalez,  the 
other,  ran  to  a  postern  door,  crying,  I  shall  never  see  Carrion  again  ! 
This  door  opened  upon  a  court-yard  where  there  was  a  wine-press, 
and  he  jumped  out,  and  by  reason  of  the  great  height  could  not 
keep  on  his  feet,  but  fell  among  the  lees  and  denied  himself  there- 
with. And  all  the  others  who  were  in  the  hall  wrapt  their  cloaks 
around  their  arms,  and  stood  round  about  the  seat  whereon  the 
Cid  was  sleeping,  that  they  might  defend  him.  The  noise  which 
they  made  awakened  the  Cid,  and  he  saw  the  lion  coming  towards 
him,  and  he  lifted  up  his  hand  and  said,  What  is  this?  .... 
and  the  lion  hearing  his  voice  stood  still ;  and  he  rose  up  and  took 
him  by  the  mane  as  if  he  had  been  a  gentle  mastiff,  and  led  him 
back  to  the  court  where  he  was  before,  and  ordered  his  keepers 
to  look  better  to  him  for  the  time  to  come.  And  when  he  had 
done  this  he  returned  to  the  hall  and  took  his  seat  again  ;  and  all 
they  who  beheld  it  were  greatly  astonished. 

III.  After  some  time  Ferrando  Gonzalez  crept  from  under  the 
seat  where  he  had  hidden  himself,  and  he  came  out  with  a  pale 
face,  not  having  yet  lost  his  fear,  and  his  brother  Diego  got  from 
among  the  lees  :  and  when  they  who  were  present  saw  them  in  this 
plight  you  never  saw  such  sport  as  they  made ;  but  my  Cid  for- 
bade their  laughter.  And  Diego  went  out  to  wash  himself  and 
change  his  garments,  and  he  sent  to  call  his  brother  forth,  and  they 
took  counsel  together  in  secret,  and  said  to  each  other,  Lo  now, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIV'AK.  385 

what  great  dishonour  this  Ruydiez  our  father-in-law  hath  done 
us,  for  he  let  this  lion  loose  for  the  nonce,  to  put  us  to  shame. 
But  in  an  evil  day  were  we  born  if  we  do  not  revenge  this  upon  his 
daughters.  Badly  were  we  matched  with  them,  and  now  for  the 
after-feast  he  hath  made  this  mockery  of  us  !  But  we  must  keep 
secret  this  which  we  bear  in  mind,  and  not  let  him  wit  that 
we  are  wrath  against  him,  for  otherwise  he  would  not  let  us  depart 
from  hence,  neither  give  us  our  wives  to  take  with  us,  and  he 
would  take  from  us  the  swords  Colada  and  Tizona  which  he  gave 
us.  ...  We  will  therefore  turn  this  thing  into  merriment  before 
him  and  his  people,  to  the  end  that  they  may  not  suspect  what  we 
have  at  heart.  While  they  were  thus  devising  their  uncle  Suero 
Gonzalez  came  in,  and  they  told  him  of  their  intent.  And  he 
counselled  them  to  keep  their  wrath  secret,  as  they  said,  till  this 
stir  of  the  Moors  from  beyond  sea  was  over,  and  then  they  should 
demand  their  wives  of  the  Cid  that  they  might  take  them  to  their 
own  country ;  This,  said  he,  the  Cid  can  have  no  reason  to  deny, 
neither  for  detaining  ye  longer  with  him ;  and  when  ye  are  got 
away  far  out  of  his  land,  then  may  ye  do  what  ye  will  with  his 
daughters,  and  ill  will  ye  do  if  ye  know  not  how  to  revenge  your- 
selves ;  so  shall  ye  remove  the  dishonour  from  yourselves,  and  cast 
it  upon  him  and  his  children.  This  wicked  counsel  did  Suero 
Gonzalez  give  unto  his  nephews,  which  he  might  have  well  excused 
giving,  and  then  both  he  and  they  would  not  have  come  off  so 
badly  as  the  history  will  in  due  season  relate. 

IV.  After  Suero  Gonzalez  and  'his  nephews  had  taken  this  evil 
counsel  together,  they  went  to  their  lodging,  and  on  the  morrow 
they  went  to  the  Alcazar  and  came  to  the  Cid  where  he  was  pre- 
paring for  business.  And  when  they  drew  nigh,  the  Cid  rose  and 
welcomed  them  right  well,  and  they  carried  a  good  countenance 
towards  him,  and  made  sport  of  what  had  happened  about  the 
lion.  And  the  Cid  began  to  give  order  in  what  array  they  should 
go  out  to  battle.  While  they  were  in  this  discourse,  a  great  cry 
was  heard  in  the  town  and  a  great  tumult,  and  this  was  because 
King  Bucar  was  come  with  his  great  power  into  the  place  which 
is  called  the  Campo  del  Quarto,  which  is  a  league  from  Valencia, 
and  there  he  was  pitching  his  tents ;  and  when  this  was  done  the 
camp  made  a  mighty  show,  for  the  history  saith  that  there  were 
full  five  thousand  pavilions,  besides  common  tents.  And  when  the 
Cid  heard  this,  he  took  both  his  sons-in-law  and  Suero  Gonzalez 
with  them,  and  went  upon  the  highest  tower  of  the  Alcazar,  anc 
showed  them  the  great  power  which  King  Bucar  of  Morocco  had 


386  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

Brought;  and  when  he  beheld  this  great  power  he  began  to  laugh 
and  was  exceeding  glad  :  but  Suero  Gonzalez  and  his  nephews 
were  in  great  fear :  howbeit  they  would  not  let  it  be  seen.  And 
when  they  came  down  from  the  tower  the  Cid  went  foremost,  and 
they  tarried  behind  and  said,  If  we  go  into  this  battle  we  shall 
never  return  to  Carrion.  Now  it  so  chanced  that  Muno  Gustios 
heard  them,  and  he  told  it  to  the  Cid,  and  it  grieved  the  Cid  at 
heart ;  but  he  presently  made  sport  of  it,  and  turned  to  his  sons- 
in-law,  and  said,  You  my  sons  shall  remain  in  Valencia  and  guard 
the  town,  and  we  who  are  used  to  this  business  will  go  out  to  bat- 
tle ;  and  they  when  they  heard  this  were  ashamed,  for  they  weened 
that  some  one  had  overheard  what  they  said  ;  and  they  made  an- 
swer, God  forefend,  Cid,  that  we  should  abide  in  Valencia  !  we  will 
go  with  you  to  the  work,  and  protect  your  body  as  if  we  were  your 
sons,  and  you  were  the  Count  Don  Gonzalo  Gomez  our  father. 
And  the  Cid  was  well  pleased  hearing  them  say  this. 

V.  While  they  were  thus  saying,  word  was  brought  to  the  Cid 
that  there  was  a  messenger  from  King  Bucar  at  the  gate  of  the 
town,  who  would  fain  speak  with  him.  The  name  of  this  Moor 
was  Ximen  de  Algezira,  and  the  Cid  gave  order  that  he  should  be 
admitted.  Now  the  history  saith,  God  had  given  such  grace  to 
my  Cid  that  never  Moor  beheld  his  face  without  having  great  fear 
of  him ;  and  this  Ximen  began  to  gaze  upon  his  countenance,  and 
said  nothing,  for  he  could  not  speak.  And  so  great  was  the  fear 
which  came  upon  him  that  the  Cid  perceived  it,  and  bade  him  take 
courage  and  deliver  the  bidding  of  his  Lord,  without  fear  or  shame, 
for  he  was  a  messenger.  And  when  the  Moor  heard  this  he  laid 
aside  his  fear,  and  recovered  heart,  and  delivered  his  bidding  fully, 
after  this  wise.  Sir  Cid  Campeador,  King  Bucar  my  Lord  hath 
sent  me  to  thee  saying,  great  wrong  hast  thou  done  him  in  holding 
Valencia  against  him,  which  belonged  to  his  forefathers  ;  and  more- 
over thou  hast  discomfited  his  brother  King  Yucef.  And  now  he 
is  come  against  thee  with  twenty  and  nine  Kings,  to  take  vengeance 
for  his  brother,  and  to  win  Valencia  from  thee  in  spite  of  thee  and 
of  all  who  are  with  thee.  Nevertheless,  King  Bucar  saith,  that 
inasmuch  as  he  hath  heard  that  thou  art  a  wise  man  and  of  good 
understanding,  he  will  show  favour  unto  thee,  and  let  thee  leave 
Valencia  with  all  the  lands  thereof,  and  go  into  Castile,  and  take 
with  thee  all  that  is  thine.  And  if  thou  wilt  not  do  this  he 
sends  to  say  that  he  will  fight  against  Valencia,  and  take  thee 
and  thy  wife  and  thy  daughters,  and  torment  thee  grievously,  in 
such  manner  that  all  Christians  who  shall  hear  tell  of  it  shall 


RODRTGO  DIAZ  DP.    BIVAU.  387 

talk  thereof  for  evermore.     This  is  the  bidding  of  my  Lord  King 
Bucar. 

VI.  When  the  Cid  heard  this,  notwithstanding  he  was  wroth  at 
heart,  he  would  not  manifest  it,  but  made  answer  in  few  words  and 
said,  Go  tell  thy  Lord  King  Bucar  I  will  not  give  him  up  Valencia  : 
great  labour  did  I  endure  in  winning  it,  and  to  no  man  am  I  be- 
holden for  it  in  the  world,  save  only  to  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
to  my  kinsmen  and  friends  and  vassals  who  aided  me  to  win  it. 
Tell  him  that  I  am  not  a  man  to  be  besieged,  and  when  he  does 
not  expect  it  I  will  give  him  battle  in  the  field ;  and  would  that 
even  as  he  has  brought  with  him  twenty  and  nine  Kings,  so  he  had 
brought  all  the  Moors  of  all  Pagandom,  for  with  the  mercy  of  God 
in  which  I  trust,  I  should  think  to  conquer  them  all.     Bear  this 
answer  to  your  Lord,  and  come  here  no  more  with  messages, 
neither  on  this  account  nor  on  any  other.     When  Ximen  de  Alge- 
zira,  the  Moorish  messenger,  heard  this,  he  left  Valencia,  and  went 
unto  his  Lord  and  told  him  before  the  twenty  and  nine  Kings  all 
that  the  Cid  had  said.     And  they  were  astonished  at  the  brave 
words  of  the  Cid,  for  they  did  not  think  that  he  would  have  re- 
sisted, so  great  was  their  power,  neither  did  they  ween  that  he 
would  so  soon  come  out  to  battle.     And  they  began  to  give  order 
to  set  their  siege  round  about  Valencia,  as  the  history,  and  as  Gil- 
bert also  relateth.     This  King  Bucar  and  his  brother  King  Yucef 
were  kinsmen  of  Alimaymon,  who  had  been  King  of  Toledo  and 
Valencia,  and  this  was  the  reason  why  Bucar  said  that  Valencia  had 
belonged  to  his  forefathers. 

VII.  No  sooner  had  Ximen,  the  messenger  of  King  Bucar,  left 
the  city,  than  the  Cid  ordered  the  bell  to  be  struck,  at  the  sound 
of  which  all  the  men  at  arms  in  Valencia  were  to  gather  together. 
Incontinently  they  all  assembled  before  the  Cid,  and  he  told  them 
all  to  be  ready  full  early  on  the  morrow  to  go  out  and  give  battle 
to  the  Moors.     And  they  made  answer  with  one  accord  that  they 
\vere  well  pleased  to  do  this,  for  they  trusted  in  God  and  in  his 
good  fortune  that  they  should  overcome  them.     On  the  morrow 
therefore  at  the  first  cock-crow,  they  confessed  and  communicated, 
as  was  their  custom,  and  before  the  morning  brake  they  went  forth 
from  Valencia.    And  when  they  had  got  through  the  narrow  passes 
among  the  gardens,  the  Cid  set  his  army  in  array.     The  van  he 
gave  to  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  to  Pero  Bermudez  who  bore  his 
banner ;  and  he  gave  them  five  hundred  horsemen,  and  a  thousand 
and  five  hundred  men  a-foot.     In  the  right  wing  was  that  honour- 
able one  with  the  shaven  crown,  Don  Hieronymo  the  Bishop,  with 


388  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

the  like  number  both  of  horse  and  foot ;  and  in  the  left  Martin 
Antolinez  of  Burgos  and  Alvar  Salvadores,  with  as  many  more. 
The  Cid  came  in  the  rear  with  a  thousand  horsemen  all  in  coats  of 
mail,  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  men  a-foot.  And  in  this 
array  they  proceeded  till  they  came  in  sight  of  the  Moors.  As  soon 
as  the  Cid  saw  their  tents  he  ordered  his  men  to  slacken  their 
pace,  and  got  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  and  put  himself  in  the  front 
before  all  his  army,  and  his  sons-in-law  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  ad- 
vanced themselves  with  him.  Then  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo 
came  to  the  Cid  and  said,  This  day  have  I  said  the  mass  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  before  you.  I  left  my  own  country  and  came  to  seek 
you,  for  the  desire  I  had  to  kill  some  Moors,  and  to  do  honour  to 
my  order  and  to  my  own  hands.  Now  would  I  be  the  foremost  in 
this  business ;  I  have  my  pennon  and  my  armorial  bearing,  and 
will  employ  them  by  God's  help,  that  my  heart  may  rejoice.  And 
my  Cid,  if  you  do  not  for  the  love  of  me  grant  this  I  will  go  my 
ways  from  you.  But  the  Cid  bade  him  do  his  pleasure,  saying  that 
it  would  please  him  also.  And  then  the  great  multitude  of  the 
Moors  began  to  come  out  of  their  tents,  and  they  formed  their 
battle  in  haste,  and  came  against  the  Christians,  with  the  sound  of 
trumpets  and  tambours,  and  with  a  great  uproar ;  and  as  they 
came  out  upon  the  alarm,  not  expecting  that  the  Cid  would  come 
against  them  so  soon,  they  did  not  advance  in  order  as  King  Bucar 
had  commanded.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  this,  he  ordered  his 
banner  to  be  advanced,  and  bade  his  people  lay  on  manfully.  The 
Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  he  pricked  forward  ;  two  Moors  he  slew 
with  the  two  first  thrusts  of  the  lance  ;  the  haft  broke,  and  he  laid 
hand  on  his  sword.  God,  .  .  how  well  the  Bishop  fought  !  two 
he  slew  with  the  lance,  and  five  with  the  sword  ;  the  Moors  came 
round  about  him  and  laid  on  loads  of  blows,  but  they  could  not 
pierce  his  arms.  He  who  was  born  in  happy  hour  had  his  eyes 
upon  him,  and  he  took  his  shield  and  placed  it  before  him,  and 
lowered  his  lance,  and  gave  Bavieca  the  spur,  that  good  horse. 
With  heart  and  soul  he  went  at  them,  and  made  his  way  into  their 
first  battle  ;  seven  the  Campeador  smote  down,  and  four  he  slew. 
In  short  time  they  joined  battle  in  such  sort  that  many  were  slain 
and  many  overthrown,  on  one  side  and  on  the  other,  and  so  great 
was  the  din  of  strokes  and  of  tambours  that  none  could  hear  what 
another  said  ;  and  they  smote  away  cruelly,  without  rest  or  respite. 
VIII.  Now  it  came  to  pass  in  this  battle  that  the  Infante  Diego 
Gonzalez  encountered  a  Moor  of  Africa  who  was  of  great  stature 
and  full  valiant  withal,  and  this  Moor  came  fiercely  against  him ; 


KODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  3S9 

and  when  the  Infante  saw  how  fiercely  he  was  coming,  he  turned 
his  back  and  fled.  No  one  beheld  this  but  Felez  Munoz  the 
nephew  of  the  Cid,  who  was  a  squire  ;  he  set  himself  against  the 
Moor  with  his  lance  under  his  arm,  and  gave  him  such  a  thrust,  in 
the  breast,  that  the  streamer  of  the  lance  came  out  all  red  with 
blood  between  his  shoulders,  and  he  downed  with  the  dead  man 
and  took  his  horse  by  the  bridle,  and  began  to  call  the  Infante 
Diego  Gonzalez.  When  the  Infante  heard  himself  called  by  his 
name  he  turned  his  head  to  see  who  called  him,  and  when  he  saw 
that  it  was  his  cousin  Felez  Munoz,  he  turned  and  awaited  him. 
And  Felez  Munoz  said,  Take  this  horse,  cousin  Diego  Gonzalez, 
and  say  that  you  killed  the  Moor ;  nobody  shall  ever  know  other- 
wise from  me,  unless  you  give  just  cause.  While  they  were  talking 
the  Cid  came  up,  after  another  Moorish  knight,  whom  he  reached 
just  as  he  came  up  to  them,  and  smote  him  with  his  sword  upon 
the  head,  so  that  he  split  it  down  to  the  teeth.  When  Felez 
Munoz  saw  the  Cid,  he  said,  Sir,  your  son-in-law  Don  Diego 
Gonzalez  hath  great  desire  to  serve  and  help  you  in  this  day's 
work,  and  he  hath  just  slain  a  Moor  from  whom  he  hath  won  this 
horse :  and  this  pleased  the  Cid  much,  for  he  weened  that  it  was 
true.  And  then  they  all  three  advanced  themselves  toward  the 
midst  of  the  battle,  giving  great  strokes,  and  smiting  and  slaying. 
Who  can  tell  how  marvellously  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  behaved 
himself  in  this  battle,  and  how  well  all  the  rest  behaved,  each  in 
his  way,  and  above  all,  the  Cid-Campeador,  as  the  greatest  and 
best  of  all  '.  nevertheless  the  power  of  the  Moors  was  so  great  that 
they  could  not  drive  them  to  flight,  and  the  business  was  upon  the 
balance  even  till  the  hour  of  nones.  Many  were  the  Christians 
who  died  that  day  among  the  foot  soldiers ;  and  the  dead,  Moors 
and  Christians  together,  were  so  many,  that  the  horses  could  scant 
move  among  their  bodies.  But  after  the  hour  of  nones  the  Cid  and 
his  people  smote  the  Moors  so  sorely  that  they  could  no  longer 
stand  against  them,  and  it  pleased  God  and  the  good  fortune  of 
the  Cid  that  they  turned  their  backs ;  and  the  Christians  followed, 
hewing  them  down,  and  smiting  and  slaying:  and  they  tarried 
not  to  lay  hands  on  those  whom  they  felled,  but  went  on  in  pur- 
suit as  fast  as  they  could.  Then  might  you  have  seen  cords 
broken,  and  stakes  plucked  up  as  the  Christians  came  to  the  tents  ; 
my  Cid's  people  drove  King  Bucar's  through  their  camp,  and 
many  an  arm  with  its  sleeve-mail  was  lopt  off,  and  many  a  head 
with  it*  helmet  fell  to  the  ground  ;  and  horses  ran  about  on  all 
sides  without  riders.  Seven  full  miles  did  the  pursuit  continue. 


390  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CW, 

And  while  they  were  thus  following  their  flight  the  Cid  set  eyes 
upon  King  Bucar,  and  made  at  him  to  strike  him  with  the  sword, 
and  trie  Moorish  King  knew  him  when  he  saw  him  coming.  Turn 
this  way,  Bucar,  cried  the  Campeador,  you  who  came  from  beyond 
sea,  to  see  the  Cid  with  the  long  beard.  We  must  greet  each 
other  and  cut  out  a  friendship  !  God  confound  such  friendship. 
cried  King  Bucar,  and  turned  his  bridle,  and  began  to  fly  towards 
the  sea,  and  the  Cid  after  him,  having  great  desire  to  reach  him. 
But  King  Bucar  had  a  good  horse  and  a  fresh,  and  the  Cid  went 
spurring  Bavieca  who  had  had  hard  work  that  day,  and  he  came 
near  his  back ;  and  when  they  were  nigh  unto  the  ships,  and  the 
Cid  saw  that  he  could  not  reach  him,  he  darted  his  sword  at  him, 
and  struck  him  between  the  shoulders ;  and  King  Bucar  being 
badly  wounded  rode  into  the  sea,  and  got  to  a  boat,  and  the  Cid 
alighted  and  picked  up  his  sword.  And  his  people  came  up, 
hewing  down  the  Moors  before  them,  and  the  Moors  in  their  fear 
of  death  ran  into  the  sea,  so  that  twice  as  many  died  in  the  water 
as  in  the  battle  :  nevertheless  so  many  were  they  who  were  slain 
in  the  field,  that  they  were  thought  to  be  seventeen  thousand 
persons  and  upward  :  but  a  greater  number  died  in  the  sea.  And 
so  many  were  they  who  were  taken  prisoner,  that  it  was  a  wonder ; 
and  of  the  twenty  and  nine  kings  who  came  with  King  Bucar, 
seventeen  were  slain.  And  when  the  Cid  saw  that  of  the  Moors 
some  had  gotten  to  the  ships  and  the  others  were  slain  or  taken, 
he  returned  toward  their  tents. 

IX.  My  Cid  Ruydiez  the  Campeador  returned  from  the  slaugh- 
ter ;  the  hood  of  his  mail  was  thrown  back  and  the  coif  upon  his 
head  bore  the  marks  of  it.  And  when  he  saw  his  sons-in-law  the 
Infantes  of  Carrion,  he  rejoiced  over  them,  and  said  to  them  to 
do  them  honour,  Come  here,  my  sons,  for  by  your  help  we  have 
conquered  in  this  battle.  Presently  Alvar  Fanez  came  up :  the 
shield  which  hung  from  his  neck  was  all  battered ;  more  than 
twenty  Moors  had  he  slain,  and  the  blood  was  running  from  his 
wrist  to  his  elbow.  Thanks  be  to  God,  said  he,  and  to  the  Father 
who  is  on  high,  and  to  you,  Cid,  we  have  won  the  day.  All  these 
spoils  are  yours  and  your  vassals.  Then  they  spoiled  the  field, 
where  they  found  great  riches  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  pearls, 
and  in  precious  stones,  and  in  sumptuous  tents,  and  in  horses,  and 
in  oxen,  which  were  so  many  that  it  was  a  wonder.  The  poor- 
est man  among  the  Christians  was  made  full  rich  that  day.  So 
great  was  the  spoil  that  six  hundred  horses  fell  to  the  Cid  as  his 
fifth,  besides  sumpter  beasts  and  camels,  and  twelve  hundred  pris- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  391 

oners ;  and  of  the  other  things  which  were  taken  no  man  can  give 
account,  nor  of  the  treasure  which  the  Cid  won  that  day  in  the 
Campo  del  Quarto.  God  be  praised  !  said  the  Campeador  .  .  .. 
once  I  was  poor,  but  now  am  I  rich  in  lands  and  in  possessions, 
and  in  gold  and  in  honour.  And  Moors  and  Christians  both  fear 
me.  Even  in  Morocco,  among  their  Mosques,  do  they  fear  lest  I 
should  set  upon  them  some  night.  Let  them  fear  it !  I  shall  not 
go  to  seek  them,  but  here  I  will  be  in  Valencia,  and  by  God's  help 
they  shall  pay  me  tribute.  Great  joy  was  made  in  Valencia  for 
this  victory,  and  great  was  the  joy  of  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  ;  five 
thousand  marks  came  to  them  for  their  portion  of  the  spoil.  And 
when  they  saw  themselves  so  rich,  they  and  their  uncle  Suero  Gon- 
zalez took  counsel  together,  and  confirmed  the  wicked  resolution 
which  they  had  taken. 

X.  One  day  the  companions  of  the  Cid  were  talking  before  him 
of  this  victory,  and  they  were  saying  who  were  the  young  knights 
that  had  demeaned  themselves  well  in  the  battle  and  in  the  pur- 
suit, and  who  had  not ;  but  no  mention  was  made  of  the  Infantes ; 
for  though  some  there  were  who  whispered  to  each  other  concerning 
them,  none  would  speak  ill  of  them  before  the  Cid.  And  the 
Infantes  saw  this,  and  took  counsel  with  their  uncle,  who  ought 
not  to  have  given  them  the  evil  counsel  that  he  did,  and  they  de- 
termined forthwith  to  put  their  wicked  design  in  execution.  So 
they  went  before  the  Cid,  and  Ferran  Gonzalez,  having  enjoined 
silence,  began  to  say  thus.  Cid,  thou  knowest  well  the  good  tie 
which  there  is  between  thee  and  us,  for  we  hold  thee  in  the  place  of 
a  father,  and  thou  didst  receive  us  as  thy  sons  on  the  day  when  thou 
gavest  us  thy  daughters  to  be  our  wives ;  and  from  that  day  we 
have  alway  abode  with  thee,  and  have  alway  endeavoured  to  do 
that  which  was  to  thy  service  ;  and  if  we  have  at  any  time  failed 
therein  it  hath  not  been  wilfully,  but  for  lack  of  better  understand- 
ing. Now  inasmuch  as  it  is  long  time  since  we  departed  from 
Castile,  from  our  father  and  from  our  mother,  and  because  neither 
we  know  how  it  fares  with  them,  nor  they  how  it  fares  with  us,  we 
would  now,  if  you  and  Dona  Ximena  should  so  think  good,  return 
unto  them,  and  take  our  wives  with  us  :  so  shall  our  father  and 
our  mother  and  our  kinsmen  see  how  honourably  we  are  mated, 
and  how  greatly  to  our  profit,  and  our  wives  shall  be  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  towns  which  we  have  given  them  for  their  dower,  and 
shall  see  what  is  to  be  the  inheritance  of  the  children  whom  they 
may  have.  And  whensoever  you  shall  call  upon  us,  we  will 
ready  to  come  and  do  you  service.  Then  the  Cid  made  answer, 


392  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CW, 

weening  that  this  was  spoken  without  deceit,  My  sons,  I  am 
troubled  at  what  ye  say,  for  when  ye  take  away  my  daughters  ye 
take  my  very  heart-strings  :  nevertheless  it  is  fitting  that  ye  do  as 
ye  have  said.  Go  when  ye  will,  and  I  will  give  unto  you  such  gifts 
that  it  shall  be  known  in  Gallicia  and  in  Castile  and  in  Leon,  with 
what  riches  I  have  sent  my  sons-in-law  home. 

XL  When  the  Cid  had  made  this  reply,  he  rose  from  his  seat 
and  went  to  Dona  Ximena  his  wife,  and  spake  with  her  and  with 
Alvar  Fanez,  and  told  them  what  had  passed  with  his  sons-in-law, 
and  what  answer  he  had  given.  Greatly  was  Dona  Ximena  troubled 
at  this,  and  Alvar  Fanez  also,  that  he  had  consented  to  what  they 
asked ;  and  she  said,  I  do  not  think  it  is  wisely  done  to  let  them 
take  our  daughters  from  us,  and  carry  them  into  another  country  ; 
for  these  our  sons-in-law  are  traitorous  and  false  at  heart,  and  if  I 
aread  them  right  they  will  do  some  dishonour  to  our  daughters,  when 
there  will  be  none  there  to  call  them  to  account.  And  Alvar  Fanez 
was  of  the  same  mind ;  but  the  Cid  was  displeased  at  this,  and 
marvelled  greatly  at  what  they  said ;  and  he  bade  them  speak  no 
more  thereof,  for  God  would  not  let  it  be  so,  .  .  neither  were  the 
Infantes  of  such  a  race  as  that  they  should  do  this ;  neither,  quoth 
he,  would  it  come  into  their  minds  to  do  it,  if  only  because  our  Lord 
King  Don  Alfonso  was  he  who  made  the  marriage ;  but  if  the 
Devil  should  tempt  them,  and  they  should  commit  this  wickedness, 
dearly  would  it  cost  them  ! 

XII.  So  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  made  ready  for  their  departure, 
and  there  was  a  great  stir  in  Valencia.  And  the  two  sisters  Dona 
Elvira  and  Dona  Sol,  came  and  knelt  before  the  Cid  and  before 
Dona  Ximena  their  mother,  and  said,  You  send  us  to  the  lands  of 
Carrion,  and  we  must  fulfil  your  command ;  now  then  give  us  your 
blessing,  and  let  us  have  some  of  your  people  with  us  in  Carrion, 
we  beseech  you.  And  the  Cid  embraced  them  and  kissed  them, 
and  the  mother  kissed  them  and  embraced  them  twice  as  much, 
and  they  gave  them  their  blessing,  and  their  daughters  kissed  their 
hands.  And  the  Cid  gave  unto  his  sons-in-law  great  store  of  cloth 
of  gold,  and  of  serge,  and  of  wool,  and  an  hundred  horses  bridled 
and  saddled,  and  an  hundred  mules  with  all  their  trappings,  and 
ten  cups  of  gold,  and  an  hundred  vessels  of  silver,  and  six  hundred 
marks  of  silver  in  dishes  and  trenchers  and  other  things.  When 
all  this  was  done  they  took  their  departure  and  went  out  of  Valencia, 
and  the  Cid  rode  out  a  long  league  with  them.  He  looked  at  the 
birds,  and  the  augury  was  bad,  and  he  thought  that  these  marriages 
would  not  be  without  some  evil.  And  his  heart  smote  him,  and  he 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  393 

began  to  think  on  what  Dona  Ximena  had  said,  and  to  fear  lest 
evil  should  befall  him  from  these  sons-in-law,  for  the  manner  of 
their  speech  was  not  as  it  was  wont  to  be.  Where  art  thou  my 
nephew,  where  art  thou  Felez  Munoz?  thou  art  the  cousin  of  ray 
daughters,  said  he,  both  in  heart  and  in  soul.  Go  with  them  even 
unto  Carrion,  and  see  the  possessions  which  are  given  them,  and 
come  back  with  tidings  thereof.  And  Felez  Munoz  said  that  he 
would  do  this.  And  the  Cid  bade  him  salute  the  Moor  Aben- 
galvon  in  his  name,  with  whom  they  should  tarry  a  night  at  Molina, 
and  bid  him  do  service  unto  his  daughters,  and  his  sons-in-law, 
and  accompany  them  as  far  as  Medina  ;  and  for  all  that  he  shall  do, 
said  the  Cid,  I  will  give  him  good  guerdon.  And  when  the  ladies 
came  to  take  their  leave  of  their  father  the  Cid,  and  of  their  mother 
Dona  Ximena,  great  were  the  lamentations  on  both  sides,  as  if  their 
hearts  had  divined  the  evil  which  was  to  come  ;  and  the  Cid  strove 
to  comfort  them,  saying,  that  he  should  alway  think  of  them,  and 
would  maintain  them  in  good  estate  :  and  he  gave  them  his  bless- 
ing and  turned  back  toward  Valencia,  and  they  went  their  way 
with  their  husbands,  and  that  parting  was  like  plucking  the  nail 
from  the  flesh. 

XIII.  So  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  went  their  way,  by  the  Campo 
del  Quarto  to  Chiva,  and  to  Bonilla,  and  to  Requena,  and  to 
Campo-Robres,  and  they  took  up  their  lodging  at  Villa  Taxo.  And 
on  the  morrow  they  took  the  road  to  Amaja,  and  leaving  it  on  the 
right  came  to  Adamuz,  and  passed  by  Colcha,  and  rested  at  Quin- 
tana.  And  when  Abengalvon  knew  that  the  daughters  of  the  Cid 
were  coming,  he  went  out  joyfully  from  Molina  to  meet  them,  and 
pitched  tents  for  them  in  the  field,  and  had  food  brought  there  in 
abundance.  God,  how  well  he  served  them  !  and  on  the  morrow 
the  Moor  gave  full  rich  and  noble  gifts  to  the  daughters  of  hi> 
Lord  the  Cid,  and  to  each  of  the  Infantes  he  gave  a  goodly  horse. 
And  he  took  horse  himself  and  rode  on  with  them,  having  two 
hundred  knights  in  his  company.  The  crossed  the  mountains  of 
Luzon  and  passed  Arbuxuelo,  and  came  to  Salon,  and  the  Moor 
lodged  them  in  the  place  which  is  called  Ansarera ;  all  this  he  did 
for  the  love  of  the  Cid  Campeador.  Now  the  Infantes  seeing  the 
riches  which  this  Moor  had  with  him,  took  counsel  together  for 
treason,  and  said,  Lo,  now  if  we  could  slay  this  Moor  Abengalvon, 
we  should  possess  all  these  riches  as  safely  as  if  we  were  in  Car- 
rion, and  the  Cid  could  never  take  vengeance.  And  a  Moor  who 
understood  the  Latin  of  the  country,  heard  them  and  knew  what 
they  said,  and  he  went  to  Abengalvon,  and  said  unto  him,  Acatat, 


394  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CJD, 

that  is  to  say,  Sire,  take  heed,  for  I  heard  the  Infantes  of  Carrion 
plotting  to  kill  thee.  Abengalvon  the  Moor  was  a  bold  Baron, 
and  when  this  was  told  him,  he  went  with  his  two  hundred  men 
before  the  Infantes,  and  what  he  said  to  them  did  not  please  them. 
Infantes  of  Carrion,  he  said,  tell  me,  what  have  I  done  ?  I  have 
served  ye  without  guile,  and  ye  have  taken  counsel  for  my  death. 
If  it  were  not  for  the  sake  of  my  Cid,  never  should  you  reach  Car- 
rion !  I  would  carry  back  his  daughters  to  the  loyal  Campeador, 
and  so  deal  with  you  that  it  should  be  talked  over  the  whole 
world.  But  I  leave  ye  for  traitors  as  ye  are.  Dona  Elvira  and 
Dona  Sol,  I  go  with  your  favour.  God  grant  that  this  marriage 
may  please  your  father  !  Having  said  this  the  good  Moor  returned 
to  Molina. 

XIV.  They  went  on  by  Valdespino,  and  by  Parra,  and  Berrocal, 
and  Val  de  Endrinas,  and  they  left  Medina  Celi  on  the  right,  and 
crossed  the  plain  of  Barahona,  and  passed  near  Berlanga  ;  and  they 
crossed  the  Douro  by  a  ford  below  the  town,  and  rode  on  and 
came  into  the  Oak-wood  of  Corpes.  The  mountains  were  high, 
and  the  trees  thick  and  lofty,  and  there  were  wild  beasts  in  that 
place.  And  they  came  to  a  green  lawn  in  the  midst  of  that  oak 
forest,  where  there  was  a  fountain  of  clear  water,  and  there  the 
Infantes  gave  order  that  their  tent  should  be  pitched ;  and  they 
passed  the  night  there,  making  show  of  love  to  their  wives,  which 
they  badly  fulfilled  when  the  sun  was  risen,  for  this  was  the  place 
where  they  thought  to  put  them  to  shame.  Early  in  the  morning 
they  ordered  the  sumpter  beasts  to  be  laden,  and  the  tent  struck. 
and  they  sent  all  their  company  on,  so  that  none  remained  with 
them,  neither  man  nor  woman,  but  they  and  their  wives  were  left 
alone  that  they  might  disport  with  them  at  pleasure.  And  Dona 
Elvira  said  to  her  husband,  Why  wouldst  thou  that  we  should  re- 
main alone  in  this  place  ?  And  he  said,  Hold  thy  peace,  and  thou 
shalt  see  !  And  the  Infantes  tore  away  the  mantles  from  off  their 
wives,  and  the  garments  which  they  wore,  save  only  their  inner 
garment,  and  they  held  them  by  the  hair  of  their  head  with  one 
hand,  and  with  the  other  took  the  girths  of  their  horses.  And  the 
women  said,  Don  Diego  and  Don  Ferrando,  ye  have  strong  swords 
and  of  sharp  edge  ;  the  one  is  called  Colada  and  the  other  Tizona  ; 
cut  off  our  heads  and  we  shall  become  martyrs  !  But  set  not  this 
evil  example  upon  us,  for  whatever  shame  ye  do  unto  us  shall  be 
to  your  own  dishonour.  But  the  Infantes  heeded  not  what  they 
said,  and  beat  them  cruelly  with  the  saddle-girths,  and  kicked 
them  with  their  spurs,  so  that  their  garments  were  torn  and  stained 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  395 

with  blood.  Oh,  if  the  Cid  Campeador  had  come  upon  them  at 
that  hour  !  And  the  women  cried  out,  and  called  upon  God  and 
Holy  Mary  to  have  mercy  upon  them ;  but  the  more  they  cried, 
the  more  cruelly  did  those  Infantes  beat  and  kick  them,  till  they 
were  covered  with  blood,  and  swooned  away.  Then  the  Infantes 
took  their  mantles  and  their  cloaks,  and  their  furs  of  ermine  and 
other  garments,  and  left  them  for  dead,  saying,  Lie  there,  daugh- 
ters of  the  Cid  of  Bivar,  for  it  is  not  fitting  that  ye  should  be  our 
wives,  nor  that  ye  should  have  your  dower  in  the  lands  of  Carrion  ! 
We  shall  see  how  your  father  will  avenge  you,  and  we  have  now 
avenged  ourselves  for  the  shame  he  did  us  with  the  Lion.  And 
they  rode  away  as  they  said  this,  leaving  them  to  the  mountain 
birds  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  forest.  Oh,  if  the  Cid  Campeador 
had  come  upon  them  at  that  hour  !  And  the  Infantes  rode  on, 
glorying  in  what  they  had  done,  for  they  said  that  the  daughters 
of  the  Cid  were  worthy  to  be  their  harlots,  but  not  their  wives. 

XV.  When  the  Infantes,  before  they  committed  this  great  cruelty, 
ordered  their  company  to  ride  forward,  Felez  Munoz  the  nephew 
of  the  Cid  rode  on  with  the  rest :  but  this  order  nothing  pleased 
him,  and  he  was  troubled  at  heart,  insomuch  that  he  went  aside 
from  his  companions,  and  struck  into  the  forest,  and  there  waited 
privily  till  he  should  see  his  cousins  come,  or  learn  what  the  In- 
fantes had  done  to  them.  Presently  he  saw  the  Infantes,  and 
heard  what  they  said  to  each  other.  Certes  if  they  had  espied  him 
he  could  not  have  escaped  deathv  But  they  pricked  on  not  seeing 
him,  and  he  rode  back  to  the  fountain,  and  there  he  found  the 
women  lying  senseless,  and  in  such  a  plight  as  ye  have  heard.  And 
he  made  great  lamentation  over  them,  saying,  Never  can  it  please 
God  that  ye  my  cousins  should  receive  such  dishonour  !  God  and 
St.  Mary  give  them  who  have  done  this  an  evil  guerdon  !  for  ye 
never  deserved  this,  neither  are  ye  of  a  race  to  deserve  that  this  or 
any  other  evil  should  betide  ye  !  By  this  time  the  women  began 
to  come  to  themselves,  but  they  could  not  speak  for  their  hearts 
were  breaking.  And  Felez  Munoz  called  out  to  them,  Cousins  ! 
Cousins  !  Dona  Elvira  !  Dona  Sol !  for  the  love  of  God  rouse  your- 
selves that  we  may  get  away  before  night  comes,  or  the  wild  beasts 
will  devour  us  !  and  they  came  to  themselves  and  began  to  open 
their  eyes,  and  saw  that  he  who  spake  to  them  was  Felez  Munoz  : 
and  he  said  to  them,  For  the  love  of  God  take  heart  and  let  us  be 
gone ;  for  the  Infantes  will  soon  seek  for  me,  and  if  God  do  not 
befriend  us  we  shall  all  be  slain.  And  Dona  Sol  said  to  him  in  her 
great  pain,  Cousin,  for  all  that  oqr  father  hath  deserved  at  your 


396  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

hands,  give  us  water.  Felez  Munoz  took  his  hat  and  filled  it  with 
water  and  gave  it  to  them.  And  he  comforted  them  and  bade 
them  take  courage,  and  besought  them  to  bear  up.  And  he  placed 
them  upon  his  horse,  and  covered  them  both  with  his  cloak,  and 
led  them  through  the  oak  forest,  into  the  thickest  part  thereof, 
and  there  he  made  a  bed  of  leaves  and  of  grass,  and  laid  them  on 
it,  and  covered  them  with  his  cloak,  and  he  sat  down  by  them  and 
began  to  weep,  for  he  knew  not  what  he  should  do ;  for  he  had 
no  food,  and  if  he  went  to  seek  it,  great  danger  was  there  because 
they  were  wounded  and  bloody,  that  the  wild  beasts  and  the  birds 
of  the  mountain  would  attack  them ;  and  on  the  other  hand, 
unless  he  went  to  his  uncle  the  Cid,  to  tell  him  of  this  wickedness, 
none  other  knew  what  had  been  done,  and  thus  there  would  be  no 
vengeance  taken. 

XVI.  While  Felez  Munoz  was  in  this  great  trouble  the  Infantes 
joined  their  company,  and  their  spurs  were  bloody  and  their  hands 
also  from  the  wounds  which  they  had  given  their  wives.  And 
when  their  people  saw  them  in  this  plight,  and  that  their  wives 
were  not  with  them,  they  weened  that  some  wickedness  had  been 
done ;  and  all  they  who  were  of  good  heart  and  understanding 
among  them  went  apart  to  the  number  of  an  hundred,  with  one 
who  was  named  Pero  Sanchez ;  and  he  spake  unto  them,  saying, 
Friends,  these  Infantes  have  done  a  foul  deed  upon  their  wives, 
the  daughters  of  our  Lord  the  Cid ;  and  they  are  our  liege  Indies, 
for  we  did  homage  to  them  before  their  father,  and  accepted  them 
as  such  ;  and  the  Cid  made  us  knights  that  we  should  discharge 
the  duty  which  we  owe  to  them.  Now  then,  it  behoveth  us  that 
we  arm  ourselves,  and  demand  of  the  Infantes  what  they  have  done 
with  our  ladies,  and  require  them  at  their  hands.  And  if  they  will 
not  deliver  them  to  us,  then  will  we  fight  against  them  even  to 
death ;  for  thus  shall  we  do  right,  and  otherwise  we  shall  be  ill 
spoken  of,  and  not  worthy  to  live  in  the  world.  This  was  the 
counsel  which  Pero  Sanchez  gave,  and  they  all  held  it  good  and 
did  accordingly.  And  the  Infantes,  when  they  saw  them  coming 
and  heard  their  demand,  were  greatly  afraid,  and  they  said,  Go 
to  the  fountain  in  the  Oak-forest  of  Corpes,  and  there  ye  may  find 
them ;  we  left  them  safe  and  sound,  and  no  harm  have  we  done 
unto  them  ;  but  we  would  not  take  them  with  us.  Ill  have  ye  done, 
replied  those  knights,  to  forsake  such  wives,  and  the  daughters  of 
such  a  father,  and  ill  will  ye  fare  for  it !  And  from  henceforward, 
we  renounce  all  friendship  with  ye,  and  defy  ye  for  the  Cid,  and 
for  ourselves,  and  for  all  his  people.  And  the  Infantes  could  not 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  ?.  : 

reply.  And  when  they  saw  that  the  Infantes  did  not  answer,  they 
said,  Get  ye  gone  for  traitors  and  false  caitiffs ;  there  is  no  way  in 
the  world  by  which  ye  can  escape  from  the  enemies  whom  ye  have 
now  made  !  But  for  all  this  the  Infantes  made  no  reply,  and  went 
their  way. 

XVII.  Pero  Sanchez  and  those  other  knights  rode  back  to  the 
green  lawn  in  the  Oak-forest,  where  they  had  left  the  dames ;  and 
when  they  came  to  the  fountain  they  saw  that  there  was  blood 
round  about,  but  the  dames  were  not  there  ;  and  they  were  greatly 
troubled,  and  knew  not  where  to  seek  them.  And  they  went  about 
the  forest  seeking  them,  calling  them  aloud  and  making  great  lam- 
entation for  the  ill  that  had  befallen,  and  also  because  they  could 
not  find  them.  Now  Felez  Munoz  and  the  women  heard  their 
voices,  and  were  in  great  fear,  for  they  weened  that  it  was  the  In- 
fantes and  their  company,  who  were  returned  with  intent  to  kill 
them  ;  and  in  their  great  fear  they  remained  still,  and  would  fain 
have  been  far  from  that  place.  So  Pero  Sanchez  and  they  who 
were  with  him  went  about  seeking  them  in  vain.  Then  spake  up 
a  knight  called  Martin  Ferrandez,  who  was  a  native  of  Burgos,  say- 
ing, Friends,  it  boots  us  to  turn  back  from  hence  and  follow  after 
the  Infantes,  and  do  battle  with  them,  even  unto  death,  because 
of  this  wickedness  which  they  have  committed,  rather  than  return 
to  the  Cid ;  for  if  we  do  not  strive  to  take  vengeance,  we  are  not 
worthy  to  appear  before  him.  And  if,  peradventure,  we  cannot 
come  up  with  them  upon  the  road,  let  us  go  before  the  King  Don 
Alfonso,  and  discover  unto  him 'this  foul  deed,  and  tell  him  the 
truth  thereof,  to  the  intent  that  he  may  order  justice  to  be  done 
for  such  a  thing ;  for  certes,  greatly  will  he  be  troubled  when  he 
knoweth  it,  and  greatly  will  he  be  incensed  against  them,  inasmuch 
as  he  it  was  who  besought  the  Cid  to  give  them  his  daughters  to 
wife.  And  we  will  not  depart  from  the  King's  house,  nor  take 
unto  ourselves  any  other  Lord  till  the  Cid  shall  have  obtained  jus- 
tice in  this  matter.  And  all  those  knights  held  this  counsel  to  be 
good  and  agreed  to  do  so.  And  they  took  their  way  and  followed 
after  the  Infantes  as  fast  as  they  could,  taking  no  rest ;  but  the 
Infantes  had  ridden  away  full  speed,  and  they  could  not  overtake 
them.  And  when  they  saw  this  they  went  their  way  to  King  Don 
Alfonso  who  was  at  Palencia,  and  they  came  before  him  and  kisse< 
his  hands,  and  then  with  sorrowful  hearts  told  him  of  the  evil 
which  had  befallen  the  Cid,  in  this  dishonour  done  unto  his  daugh- 
ters by  the  Infantes  of  Carrion.  And  when  the  King  heard  it  he 
was  grievously  offended,  as  one  who  had  great  part  therein  ;  and 


398  CHRONICLE   OF   THE   CID, 

he  said  unto  them,  It  must  needs  be,  that  before  many  days  we 
shall  receive  tidings  of  this  from  the  Cid  Campeador,  and  then 
upon  his  complaint  we  will  enter  into  the  business  in  such  wise, 
that  every  one  shall  have  justice.  Then  Pero  Sanchez  and  the 
other  knights  kissed  the  King's  hands  for  what  he  had  said ;  and 
they  abode  in  his  court,  waiting  tidings  from  the  Cid. 

XVIII.  When  Felez  Munoz  saw  that  the  voices  which  they 
heard  had  ceased,  he  went  after  awhile  to  a  village  which  was  at 
hand,  to  seek  food  for  the  dames  and  for  himself;  and  in  this 
manner  he  kept  them  for  seven  days.  And  in  that  village  he  found 
a  good  man,  who  was  a  husbandman,  and  who  lived  a  godly  life 
with  his  wife  and  with  his  daughters  ;  and  this  good  man  knew  the 
Cid.  Ruydiez,  for  the  Cid  had  lodged  in  his  house,  and  he  had 
heard  tell  of  his  great  feats.  And  when  Felez  Munoz  knew  this 
he  took  the  man  aside,  seeing  how  good  a  man  he  was,  and  how 
well  he  spake  of  the  Cid,  and  told  him  what  had  befallen  those 
dames,  and  how  he  had  hidden  them  in  the  wood.  And  when  the 
good  man  heard  it  he  had  great  ruth  for  them,  but  he  held  himself 
a  happy  man  in  that  he  could  do  them  service  ;  and  he  took  two 
asses  and  went  with  Felez  Munoz  to  the  place  where  they  were 
hidden,  and  took  with  him  his  two  sons,  who  were  young  men. 
And  when  the  dames  saw  them  they  marvelled  who  they  might  be, 
and  were  ashamed  and  would  have  hidden  themselves;  but  they 
could  not.  And  the  good  man  bent  his  knees  before  them,  weep- 
ing, and  said,  Ladies,  I  am  at  the  service  of  the  Cid  your  father, 
who  hath,  many  times  lodged  in  my  house,  and  I  served  him  the 
best  I  could,  and  he  alway  was  bountiful  toward  me.  And  now, 
this. young  man,  who  saith  his  name  is  Felez  Munoz,  hath  told  me 
the  great  wrong  and  dishonour  which  your  husbands,  the  Infantes 
of  Carrion,  have  done  unto  you.  And  when  I  heard  it  I  was  moved 
to  great  sorrow,  and  for  the  great  desire  I  have  to  do  service  to 
the  Cid  and  to  you,  I  am  come  hither,  to  carry  you,  if  you  will  be 
so  pleased,  upon  these  beasts,  to  my  house ;  for  you  must  not 
remain  in  this  wild  forest,  where  the  beasts  would  devour  you. 
And  when  you  are  there,  I  and  my  wife  and  my  daughters  will 
serve  you  the  best  we  can ;  and  you  may  then  send  this  squire  to 
your  father,  and  we  will  keep  you  secretly  and  well  till  your  father 
shall  send  for  you ;  this  place  is  not  fit  for  you,  for  you  would  die 
of  cold  and  hunger.  When  th$,gp.od  man  had  said  this,  Dona 
Sol  turned  to. -Dona  JElvira  and  said,,$ister,  the  good  man  saith 
well,  and  it  is  ..lietter  that  we  should  go  with  him  than  remain  and 
die  here,  for  so  shall  we  see  the  vengeance  which  I  trust  in  God 


RODRIGO  DIAZ   DR   HIVAR.  399 

our  father  will  give  us.  So  they  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  to  that 
good  man.  And  he  set  them  upon  his  beasts,  and  led  them  to  the 
village,  when  it  was  now  night;  and  they  entered  his  house 
secretly,  so  that  none  knew  of  their  coming  save  the  good  man 
and  his  family,  whom  he  charged  that  they  should  tell  no  man 
thereof.  And  there  his  wife  and  his  daughters  ministered  unto 
them  with  pure  good  will. 

XIX.  Then  these  dames  wrote  a  letter  to  their  father  the  Cid, 
which  was  a  letter  of  credence,  that  he  should  believe  the  tidings 
which  Felez  Munoz  would  deliver,  and  they  wrote  it  with  the  blood 
from  their  wounds.  And  Felez  Munoz  went  his  way  toward  Valen- 
cia ;  and  when  he  came  to  Santesteban  he  spake  with  Diego  Tellez, 
who  had  been  of  the  company  of  Alvar  Fanez,  and  told  him  what 
had  befallen.  He,  so  soon  as  he  heard  this  great  villany,  took 
beasts  and  seemly  raiment,  and  went  for  those  dames,  and  brought 
them  from  the  house  of  that  good  man  to  Santesteban,  and  did 
them  all  honour  that  they  could.  They  of  Santesteban  were 
always  gentle  men  ;  and  they  comforted  the  daughters  of  the  Cid, 
and  there  they  were  healed  of  their  hurts.  In  the  meantime  Felez 
Munoz  proceeded  on  his  journey ;  and  it  came  to  pass  that  he  met 
Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  Pero  Bermudez  on  the  way,  going  to  the 
King  with  a  present  which  the  Cid  had  sent  him ;  and  the  present 
was  this,  .  .  two  hundred  horses,  from  those  which  he  had  won  in 
the  battle  of  Quarto  from  King  Bucar,  and  an  hundred  Moorish 
prisoners,  and  many  good  swords,  and  many  rich  saddles.  And 
as  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  rode  on  in  talk,  they  thought 
that  it  was  he,  and  marvelled  greatly ;  and  he  when  he  drew  nigh 
began  to  tear  his  hair,  and  make  great  lamentation,  so  that  they 
were  greatly  amazed.  And  they  alighted,  asking  him  what  it  was. 
And  he  related  unto  them  all  that  had  befallen.  But  when  they 
heard  this,  who  can  tell  the  lamentation  which  they  made  ? .  And 
they  took  counsel  together  what  they  should  do,  and  their  counsel 
was  this,  .  .  that  they  should  proceed  to  the  King,  and  demand 
justice  at  his  hands  in  the  name  of  the  Cid,  and  that  Felez  Munoz 
should  proceed  to  Valencia.  So  he  told  them  the  name  of  the 
good  man  with  whom  he  had  left  the  dames,  and  the  place  where 
he  dwelt,  and  also  how  he  had  spoken  with  Diego  Tellez  at  San- 
testeban, and  then  they  parted. 

:  XX.  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  held  on  their  way,  and 
eame  to  the  King,  whom  they  found  in  Valladolid.  And  he, re- 
ceived them  right  well,  and  asked  them  for  the  Cid,  and  they 
kissed  his  hand  and  said,  Sir,  the  Cid  commends  himself  to  your 


400  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

grace  ;  he  hath  a  good  affair  with  King  Bucar  of  Morocco,  and 
hath  defeated  him,  and  nine  and  twenty  Kings  who  came  with  him, 
in  the  field  of  Quarto,  and  great  booty  did  he  gain  there  in  gold 
and  in  silver,  and  in  horses  and  tents  and  cattle ;  and  he  hath 
slain  many  and  taken  many  prisoners.  And  in  acknowledgment 
of  you  as  his  natural  Lord,  he  sends  you  two  hundred  horses,  and 
an  hundred  black  Moors,  and  many  rich  saddles  and  precious 
swords,  beseeching  you  to  accept  them  at  his  hand,  in  token  of  the 
desire  he  hath  to  do  service  to  God  and  to  you,  maintaining  the 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ.  And  King  Don  Alfonso  made  answer  and 
said,  that  he  took  the  present  of  the  Cid  with  a  right  will,  as  of  the 
truest  and  most  honourable  vassal  that  ever  Lord  had  :  and  he  gave 
order  to  his  people  to  receive  it,  and  bade  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero 
Bennudez  seat  themselves  at  his  feet.  After  awhile  Alvar  Fanez 
rose  and  said,  Sir,  when  we  departed  from  the  Cid  we  left  him  in 
great  honour  and  prosperity ;  but  on  our  way  we  met  a  squire  who 
is  his  nephew,  by  name  Felez  Munoz,  and  he  hath  told  us  the  evil 
and  the  dishonour  which  both  we  and  the  Cid  endure  in  the 
villany  which  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  have  committed  upon  his 
daughters.  You,  Sir,  know  how  great  this  villany  hath  been,  and 
how  nearly  it  toucheth  you,  for  the  marriage  was  of  your  appoint- 
ment, and  I  gave  them  by  your  command  to  the  Infantes.  Pero 
Sanchez  hath  told  you  that  the  dames  were  dead,  as  he  believed 
them  to  be ;  but  we,  Sir,  know  that  they  are  yet  alive,  having  been 
grievously  hurt  and  wounded  with  bridles  and  spurs,  and  stripped  of 
their  garments,  .  .  in  which  plight  Felez  Munoz  found  them.  Certes 
such  a  thing  as  this  cannot  please  God  in  Heaven,  and  ought  to 
offend  you  who  are  a  Lord  here  in  your  own  realm.  Now  there- 
fore we  beseech  you  that  you  take  justice  for  yourself,  and  give  us 
and  the  Cid  ours.  And  let  not  the  Cid  be  dishonoured  in  your 
time,  for  blessed  be  God,  he  hath  never  been  dishonoured  yet,  but 
hath  gone  on  alway  advancing  in  honour  since  King  Don  Ferrando 
your  father  knighted  him  in  Coimbra.  To  this  the  King  made 
answer  and  said,  God  knoweth  the  trouble  which  I  resent  for  this 
dishonour  which  hath  been  done  to  the  Cid,  and  the  more  I  hear 
of  it  the  more  doth  it  trouble  me,  and  many  reasons  are  there  why 
it  should ;  for  my  own  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  Cid,  and  for 
the  sake  of  his  daughters ;  but  since  they  are  yet  alive  the  evil  is 
not  so  great,  for  as  they  have  wrongfully  put  to  shame,  nothing 
meriting  such  a  treatment,  they  may  be  rightfully  avenged,  as  my 
Cortes  shall  determine.  Moreover  it  is  a  grief  to  me  that  my  vas- 
sals the  Infantes  of  Carrion  should  have  erred  so  badly  and  with 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIl'AR.  401 

such  cruelty ;  but  since  it  hath  been  so  I  cannot  but  do  justice.  I 
hold  it  good  therefore  to  summon  them  to  my  Cortes,  which  I  will 
assemble  for  this  matter  in  Toledo,  and  the  time  assigned  them 
shall  be  three  months  from  this  day ;  and  do  ye  tell  the  Cid  to 
come  there  with  such  of  his  people  as  he  shall  think  good.  Glad 
were  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  of  this  reply,  and  they  kissed 
his  hand,  and  dispeeded  themselves.  And  the  king  ordered  mules 
to  be  given  them  for  the  dames,  with  right  noble  saddles  and  trap- 
pings of  gold  and  cloth  of  gold  and  of  wool,  with  menever  and 
gris. 

XXI.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  went  their  way, 
and  Pero  Sanchez  and  his  company  departed  with  them.  They 
went  up  Val  de  Esgueva  to  Penafiel,  and  by  Roa  and  Arrueco,  and 
they  entered  the  Oak-forest  of  Corpes,  and  Pero  Sanchez  showed 
the  place  beside  the  fountain  where  the  villany  had  been  com- 
mitted ;  and  they  made  such  lamentation  there  as  if  they  had  seen 
the  dames  lie  dead  before  them.  Then  rode  they  to  the  village 
where  the  good  man  dwelt,  and  went  to  his  dwelling,  and  good 
guerdon  did  they  give  unto  him  for  the  service  which  he  had  done, 
so  that  he  was  full  well  requited.  And  they  took  with  them  the  two 
sous  and  the  two  daughters  of  the  good  man,  that  they  might  rec- 
ompense them  for  the  good  deeds  of  their  father ;  and  the  dames 
gave  them  in  marriage,  and  made  them  full  rich,  and  held  them 
even  as  brothers  and  as  sisters,  because  of  the  service  which  they 
had  received  from  them.  When  it  was  known  at  Santesteban  that 
Minaya  was  coming  for  his  kinswomen,  the  men  of  that  town  wel- 
comed him  and  his  company,  and  they  brought  him  in  payment 
the  efurcion,  that  is  to  say,  the  supper-money,  and  it  was  full  great. 
But  Minaya  would  not  accept  it  at  their  hands,  and  he  thanked 
them  and  said,  Thanks,  men  of  Santesteban,  for  what  ye  have  done, 
and  my  Cid  the  Campeador  will  thank  ye,  as  I  do,  and  God  will 
give  ye  your  guerdon.  Then  went  they  to  visit  their  kinswomen, 
and  when  they  saw  the  dames,  who  can  tell  the  great  lamentation 
which  was  made  on  both  sides  ?  albeit  that  they  rejoiced  to  see  each 
other.  And  Minaya  said  unto  them,  By  God,  cousins,  He  knoweth 
the  truth,  and  your  father  and  mother  know  it  also,  .  .  I  mis- 
doubted this  when  you  went  away  with  those  false  ones ;  and  it 
grieved  me  when  your  father  said  that  he  had  given  his  consent 
that  ye  should  go,  and  your  mother  gainsaid  it  also  ;  but  we  could 
not  prevail,  for  he  said  he  had  consented.  Howbeit,  since  ye  are 
alive,  of  evils  let  us  be  thankful  for  the  least ;  you  have  lost  one 
marriage,  and  may  gain  a  better,  and  the  day  will  come  when  we 


402  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    (.'ID, 

shall  avenge  ye.  That  night  they  rested  at  Santesteban,  and  on 
the  morrow  they  set  forward  and  took  the  road  towards  Atienza, 
and  the  men  of  Santesteban  escorted  them  as  far  as  the  river 
Damor,  to  do  them  pleasure.  And  they  passed  Alcoceba,  and 
went  on  to  the  King's  Ford,  and  there  took  up  their  lodging  at  the 
Casa  de  Berlanga.  On  the  morrow  they  lodged  at  Medina  Cell, 
and  from  thence  they  went  to  Molina,  and  Abengalvon  came  out 
with  a  right  good  will  to  welcome  them,  for  love  of  the  Cid,  and 
he  did  them  all  the  honour  that  he  could.  And  it  was  accorded 
between  them  that  the  dames  should  rest  there  some  days,  because 
of  their  weakness,  and  that  they  should  send  and  let  the  Cid  know 
what  had  been  done. 

XXII.  Then  Pero  Bermudez  went  on  to  Valencia,  and  Alvar 
Fanez  and  the  rest  of  his  company  abode  with  the  dames  in  Molina. 
And  when  Pero  Bermudez  arrived  he  found  the  Cid  Ruydiez  just 
risen  with  his  chivalry  from  dinner,  and  when  the  Cid  saw  him  he 
welcomed  him  right  well ;  howbeit  he  could  not  refrain  from  weep- 
ing ;  for  before  this  Felez  Mufios  had  told  him  all.  And  he  stroked 
his  beard  and  said,  Thanks  be  to  Christ,  the  Lord  of  this  world,  by 
this  beard  which  no  one  hath  ever  cut,  the  Infantes  of  Carrion 
shall  not  triumph  in  this  !  And  he  began  to  take  comfort,  hear- 
ing how  King  Don  Alfonso  had  appointed  the  Cortes.  And  he 
took  Pero  Bermudez  by  the  hand  and  led  him  to  Dona  Ximena, 
who  wept  greatly  at  seeing  him,  and  said,  Ah,  Pero  Bermudez. 
what  tidings  bringest  thou  of  my  daughters  ?  And  he  comforted 
her  and  said,  Weep  not,  Lady,  for  I  left  them  alive  and  well  at 
Molina,  and  Alvar  Fanez  with  them  ;  by  God's  blessing  you  shall 
have  good  vengeance  for  them  !  Then  the  Cid  seated  himself 
near  his  wife,  and  Pero  Bermudez  took  his  seat  before  them,  and 
told  them  all  that  he  had  done,  and  how  the  King  had  summoned 
them  to  the  Cortes  at  Toledo.  And  he  said  unto  the  Cid.  My 
uncle  and  Lord,  I  know  not  what  to  say,  but  ill  is  my  luck  that  I 
could  not  take  vengeance  before  I  returned  here  ;  and  certes,  if  I 
could  have  found  them  I  would  have  died,  or  have  completed  it : 
but  they  when  they  had  done  this  villany  dared  not  appear  before 
the  King,  neither  in  his  Court,  and  therefore  he  hath  issued  this 
summons  to  them  that  they  should  come.  Manifestly  may  it  be 
seen  that  the  King  well  inclineth  to  give  you  justice,  if  you  fail  not 
to  demand  it.  Now  then  I  beseech  you  tarry  not,  but  let  us  to 
horse  and  confront  them  and  accuse  them,  for  this  is  not  a  thing 
to  be  done  leisurely.  And  the  Cid  answered  and  said,  Chafe  not 
thyself,  Pero  Bermudez.  for  the  man  who  thinketh  by  chafing  to 


KODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIYAR.  403 

expedite  his  business,  leaveth  off  worse  than  he  began.  Be  you  cer- 
tain, that  if  I  die  not  I  shall  take  vengeance  upon  those  traitors,  and 
I  trust  in  God  not  to  die  till  I  have  taken  it.  Now  therefore,  give 
me  no  more  anger  than  I  feel  in  my  own  heart,  for  Felez  Munoz 
hath  given  me  enough.  I  thank  my  Lord  King  Don  Alfonso  for 
the  answer  which  he  gave  you,  and  for  appointing  the  Cortes,  and 
in  such  guise  will  I  appear  there  as  shall  gall  them  who  wish  ill  to 
me.  God  willing,  we  will  take  our  departure  in  good  time  !  Do 
you  now  return  to  Molina,  and  bring  on  my  daughters,  for  I  would 
fain  see  them  ;  and  I  will  talk  with  them  that  they  may  tell  me  the 
whole  truth  of  this  thing,  that  I  may  know  the  whole  when  I  go  to 
the  court  of  the  King  to  demand  vengeance. 

XXIII.  Pero  Bermudez  returned  the  next  day  to  Molina,  where 
Abengalvon  had  done  great  honour  to  the  dames,  and  to  Alvar 
Faiiez,  and  all  that  were  with  him.  And  they  departed  from  Mo- 
lina, and  Abengalvon  with  them,  for  he  would  not  leave  them  till 
he  had  brought  them  to  Valencia  to  his  Lord  the  Cid.  And  when 
the  Cid  knew  that  they  were  drawing  nigh  he  rode  out  two  leagues 
to  meet  them,  and  when  they  saw  him  they  made  great  lamentation, 
they  and  all  his  company,  not  only  the  Christians  but  the  Moors 
also  who  were  in  his  service.  But  my  Cid  embraced  his  daughters 
and  kissed  them  both,  and  smiled  and  said,  Ye  are  come,  my 
children,  and  God  will  heal  you  !  I  accepted  this  marriage  for 
you,  but  I  could  do  no  other ;  by  God's  pleasure  ye  shall  be  better 
mated  hereafter.  And  when  they  reached  Valencia  and  went 
into  the  Alcazar  to  their  mother  Dona  Ximena,  who  can  tell  the 
lamentation  which  was  made  by  the  mother  over  her  daughters,  and 
the  daughters  with  their  mother,  and  by  the  women  of  their  house- 
hold. Three  days  did  this  great  lamentation  last.  And  the  Cid 
thanked  Abengalvon,  his  vassal,  for  the  honour  which  he  had  shown 
to  his  children  and  their  company,  and  promised  to  protect  him 
from  all  who  should  come  against  him.  And  Abengalvon  returned 
to  Molina  well  pleased. 


•104  CHRONICLE   OF   THE   CID, 


BOOK   IX. 

I.  MY  Cid  the  Campeador  made  ready  to  appear  at  the  Cortes 
,Jn  Toledo,  and  he  left  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  Martin 

Pelaez  the  Asturian,  to  command  in  Valencia,  and  five  hundred 
knights  with  them,  all  hidalgos.  And  he  spake  with  his  daughters, 
and  commanded  and  besought  them  to  tell  him  the  whole  truth, 
how  this  matter  had  been,  and  not  say  the  thing  which  was  false  ; 
and  they  did  accordingly,  and  related  unto  him  all,  even  as  it  had 
befallen  them.  And  the  Cid  departed  from  Valencia,  and  with 
him  went  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya  with  two  hundred  knights,  and 
Pero  Bermudez  with  one  hundred,  and  Martin  Antolinez  with  fifty, 
and  Martin  Fernandez  with  other  fifty,  and  Felez  Ferruz  and  Benito 
Sanchez  with  fifty  each ;  .  .  these  were  five  hundred  knights.  And 
there  went  fifty  with  Martin  Garcia  and  Martin  Salvadores,  and 
fifty  with  Pero  Gonsalvez  and  Martin  Munoz,  and  Diego  Sanchez 
of  Arlanza  went  with  fifty,  and  Don  Nuno,  he  who  colonized  Cu- 
biella,  and  Alvar  Bermudez  he  who  colonized  Osma,  went  with 
forty,  and  Gonzalo  Munoz  of  Orbaneja,  and  Muno  Ravia,  and 
Yvanez  Cornejo  with  sixty,  and  Muno  Fernandez  the  Lord  of 
Monteforte,  and  Gomez  Fernandez  he  who  colonized  Pampliega 
with  sixty ;  and  Don  Garcia  de  Roa  and  Serrazin  his  brother, 
Ix>rd  of  Aza,  with  ninety  ;  and  Antolin  Sanchez  of  Soria  took  with 
him  forty  knights  who  were  his  children  or  his  kin  :  .  .  nine  hundred 
knights  were  they  in  all.  And  there  went  with  them  five  hundred 
esquires  on  foot,  all  hidalgos,  beside  those  who  were  bred  in  his 
household,  and  beside  other  footmen,  who  were  many  in  number. 
All  these  went  well  clad  in  right  good  garments,  and  with  good 
horses,  to  serve  the  Cid  both  in  the  Cortes  and  in  war. 

II.  King  Don  Alfonso  made  no  delay,  but  sent  out  his  letters 
through  Leon  and  Santiago,  to  the  Portuguese  and  the  Galicians, 
and  they  of  Carrion,  and  the  Castilians,  that  he  would  hold  a  Cortes 
in  Toledo  at  the  end  of  seven  weeks,  and  that  they  who  did  not 
appear  should  no  longer  be  accounted  his  vassals.     At  this  greatly 
were  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  troubled,  for  they  feared  the  coming 
of  my  Cid  the  Campeador.     And  they  took  counsel  with  their  kin 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  405 

and  prayed  the  King  that  he  would  hold  them  excused  from  that 
Cortes ;  and  the  King  made  answer,  that  nothing  but  God  should 
excuse  them  from  it,  for  the  Campeador  was  coming  to  demand  jus- 
tice against  them,  and  he,  quoth  the  King,  who  will  not  appear, 
shall  quit  my  kingdoms.  So  when  they  saw  that  they  must  needs 
appear,  they  took  counsel  with  the  Count  Don  Garcia,  the  enemy 
of  my  Cid,  who  alway  wished  him  ill,  and  they  went  with  the 
greatest  company  that  they  could  assemble,  thinking  to  dismay  my 
C  id  the  Campeador.  And  they  arrived  before  him. 

III.  When  my  Cid  drew  nigh  unto  Toledo,  he  sent  Alvar  Fanez 
forward  to  kiss  the  King's  hand,  and  let  him  wit  that  he  should  be 
there  that  night.  When  the  King  heard  this  it  rejoiced  his  heart, 
and  he  took  horse  and  went  out  with  a  great  company  to  meet  him 
who  was  born  in  happy  hour ;  and  there  went  with  him  his  sons-in- 
law,  the  Count  Don  Anrrich,  and  the  Count  Don  Remond ;  this 
one  was  the  father  of  the  good  Emperor.  When  they  came  in 
sight,  the  Cid  dismounted  and  fell  to  the  ground,  and  would  have 
abased  himself  to  honour  his  Lord,  but  the  King  cried  out  to  him 
and  said,  By  St.  Isidro  this  must  not  be  to-day  !  Mount,  Cid,  or 
I  shall  not  be  well  pleased  !  I  welcome  you  with  heart  and  soul ; 
.  .  and  my  heart  is  grieved  for  your  grief.  God  send  that  the  court 
be  honoured  by  you  !  Amen,  said  my  Cid  the  Campeador,  and 
he  kissed  his  hand,  and  afterwards  saluted  him.  And  the  Cid 
said,  I  thank  God  that  I  see  you,  Sir ;  and  he  humbled  himself  to 
Count  Don  Anrrich,  and  Count  Don  Remond,  and  the  others,  and 
said,  God  save  all  our  friends,  and'chiefly  you,  Sir  !  my  wife  Dona 
Ximena  kisses  your  hand,  and  my  daughters  also,  that  this  thing 
which  hath  befallen  us,  may  be  found  displeasing  unto  you.  And 
the  King  said,  That  will  it  be,  unless  God  prevent.  So  they  rode 
toward  Toledo.  And  the  King  saith  unto  him,  I  have  ordered 
you  to  be  lodged  in  my  Palaces  of  Galiana,  that  you  may  be  near 
me.  And  the  Cid  answered,  Gramercy,  Sir  !  God  grant  you  long 
life  and  happy,  but  in  your  Palaces  there  is  none  who  should  be 
lodged  save  you.  When  you  hold  your  Cortes  let  it  be  in  those 
Palaces  of  Galiana,  for  there  is  better  room  there  than  in  the  Al- 
cazar. I  will  not  cross  the  Tagus  to-night,  but  will  pass  the  night 
in  St.  Servans  on  this  side,  and  hold  a  vigil  there.  To-morrow  I 
will  enter  the  city,  and  be  in  the  court  before  dinner.  The  King 
said  that  it  pleased  him  well,  and  he  returned  into  Toledo.  And 
the  Cid  went  into  the  Church  of  St.  Servans,  and  ordered  candles 
to  be  placed  upon  the  altar,  for  he  would  keep  a  vigil  there  ;  and 
there  he  remained  with  Minaya  and  the  other  good  ones,  praying 


406 

to  the  Lord,  and  talking  in  private.  The  tents  of  his  company 
were  pitched  upon  the  hills  round  about.  Any  one  who  beheld 
them  might  well  have  said,  that  it  looked  like  a  great  host. 

IV.  When  the  King  entered  the  city,  he   bade  his  seneschal 
Benito  Perez,  make  ready  the  Palaces  of  Galiana  for  the  next  day, 
when  the  Cortes  should  begin ;   and   he  fitted  the  great  Palace 
after   this   manner.     He  placed  estrados  with  carpets  upon   the 
ground,  and  hung  the  walls  with  cloth  of  gold.    And  in  the  highest 
place  he  placed  the  royal  chair  in  which  the  King  should  sit ;  it 
was  a  right  noble  chair  and  a  rich,  which  he  had  won  in  Toledo, 
and  which  had  belonged  to  the  Kings  thereof;  and  round  about  it 
right  noble  estrados  were  placed  for  the  Counts  and  honourable 
men  who  were  come  to  the  Cortes.     Now  the  Cid  knew  how  they 
were  fitting  up  the  Palaces  of  Galiana,  and  he  called  for  a  squire, 
who  was  a  young  man,  one  whom  he  had  brought  up  and  in  whom 
he  had  great  trust ;  he  was  an  hidalgo,  and  hight  Ferran  Alfonso  : 
and  the  Cid  bade  him  take  his  ivory  seat  which  he  had  won  in 
Valencia,  and  which  had  belonged  to  the  Kings  thereof,  and  place 
it  in  the  Palace,  in  the  best  place,  near  the  seat  of  the  King ;  and 
that  none  might  hurt  or  do  dishonour  unto  it,  he  gave  him  a  hun- 
dred squires,  all  hidalgos,  to  go  with  him,  and  ordered  them  not  to 
leave  it  till  he  should  come  there  the  next  day.     So  when  they 
had  dined,  they  made  the  seat  be  taken  up,  and  went  with  it  to  the 
Palaces  of  Galiana,  and  placed  it  near  the  seat  of  the  King,  as  the 
Cid  had  commanded ;  and  all  that  day  and  night  they  remained 
there  guarding  the  ivory  seat,  till  the  Cid  should  come  and  take 
his  place   thereon ;    every  one  having   his  sword    hung  from   his 
neck.     This  was  a  right  noble  seat,  and  of  subtle  work,  so  that 
whoso  beheld  it  would  say  it  was  the  seat  of  a  good  man,  and  that 
it  became  such  a  one  as  the  Cid.     It  was  covered  with  cloth  of 
gold,  underneath  which  was  a  cushion. 

V.  On  the  morrow,  after  the  King  had  heard  mass,  he  went 
into  the  Palace  of  Galiana,  where  the  Cortes  was  to  assemble,  and 
the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and  the  other  Counts  and  Ricos-omes  with 
him,  save  the  Cid  who  was  not  yet  come  ;  and  when  they  who  did 
not  love  the  Cid  beheld  his  ivory  seat,  they  began  to  make  mock 
of  it.     And  Count  Garcia  said  to  the  King,  I  beseech  your  Grace, 
tell  me,  for  whom  that  couch  is  spread  beside  your  seat :  for  what 
dame  is  it  made  ready ;  will  she  come  drest  in  the  almexia  .  .  or 
with  white  alquinales  on  her  head,  or  after  what  fashion  will  she  be 
apparelled  ?    Sir,  a  seat  like  that  is  fit  for  none  but  your  Grace  : 
give  order  to  take  it  for  yourself,  or  that  it  be  removed.     When 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  407 

Ferran  Alfonso,  who  was  there  to  guard  the  ivory  seat  heard  this, 
he  answered  and  said,  Count,  you  talk  full  foolishly,  and  speak  ill 
of  one  against  whom  it  behoves  you  not  to  talk.  He  who  is  to  sit 
upon  this  seat  is  better  than  you,  or  than  all  your  lineage  ;  and  he 
hath  ever  appeared  a  man  to  all  his  enemies,  not  like  a  woman  as 
you  say.  If  you  deny  this  I  will  lay  hands  upon  you,  and  make 
you  acknowledge  it  before  my  Lord  the  King  Don  Alfonso  who  is 
here  present.  And  I  am  of  such  a  race  that  you  cannot  acquit  your- 
self by  saying  I  am  not  your  peer,  and  the  vantage  of  half  your 
arms  I  give  you  !  At  these  words  was  the  King  greatly  troubled, 
and  the  Counts  also,  and  all  the  honourable  men  who  were  there 
present.  And  Count  Garcia  who  was  an  angry  man,  wrapt  his 
mantle  under  his  arm,  and  would  have  struck  Ferran  Alfonso, 
saying,  Let  me  get  at  the  boy  who  dares  me  !  And  Ferran  Alfonso 
laid  hand  upon  his  sword  and  came  forward  to  meet  him,  saying, 
that  if  it  were  not  for  the  King,  he  would  punish  him  thereright  for 
the  folly  which  he  had  uttered.  But  the  King  seeing  that  these 
words  went  on  from  bad  to  worse,  put  them  asunder  that  farther 
evil  might  not  happen,  and  he  said,  None  of  ye  have  reason  to 
speak  thus  of  the  seat  of  the  Cid ;  he  won  it  like  a  good  knight 
and  a  valiant,  as  he  is.  There  is  not  a  King  in  the  world  who 
deserves  this  seat  better  than  my  vassal  the  Cid,  and  the  better 
and  more  honourable  he  is,  the  more  am  I  honoured  through  him. 
This  seat  he  won  in  Valencia,  where  it  had  belonged  to  the  Kings 
thereof ;  and  much  gold  and  silver,  and  many  precious  stones  hath 
he  won ;  and  many  a  battle  hath  he  won  both  against  Christians 
and  Moors ;  and  of  all  the  spoil  which  he  hath  won,  he  hath  alway 
sent  me  part,  and  great  presents  and  full  rich,  such  as  never  other 
vassal  sent  to  his  Lord ;  and  this  he  hath  done  in  acknowledgment 
that  I  am  his  Lord.  Ye  who  are  talking  here  against  him,  which 
of/  ye  hath  ever  sent  me  such  gifts  as  he  ?  If  any  one  be  envious, 
let  him  achieve  such  feats  as  he  hath  done,  and  I  will  seat  him 
with  myself  to  do  him  honour. 

VI.  Now  the  Cid  had  performed  his  vigil  in  the  Church  of 
St.  Servan,  matins  and  primes  were  said,  and  mass  performed; 
and  then  he  made  ready  to  go  to  the  Cortes,  and  with  him  went 
Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  whom  he  called  his  right  arm,  and  Pero 
Bermudez,  and  Muno  Gustios,  and  Martin  Antolinez  that  doughty 
Burgalese,  and  Alvar  Alvarez,  and  Alvar  Salvadores,  and  Martin 
Munoz,  and  Felez  Munoz  the  Cid's  nephew,  and  Malanda  who  was 
a  learned  man,  and  Galin  Garciez  the  good  one  of  Arragon  :  the* 
and  others  made  ready  to  go  with  him,  being  an  hundred  of  the 


408  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

best  of  his  company.  They  wore  velmezes  under  their  harness, 
that  they  might  be  able  to  bear  it,  and  then  their  mail,  which  was 
as  bright  as  the  sun  :  over  this  they  had  ermine  or  other  skins, 
laced  tight  that  the  armour  might  not  be  seen,  and  under  their 
cloaks,  their  swords  which  were  sweet  and  sharp.  He  who  was 
born  in  happy  hour  made  no  tarriance  ;  he  drew  on  his  legs  hose 
of  fine  cloth,  and  put  on  over  them  shoes  which  were  richly  worked. 
A  shirt  of  ranzal  he  wore  which  was  as  white  as  the  sun ;  all  the 
fastenings  were  wrought  with  gold  and  silver  :  over  this  a  brial  of 
gold  tissue ;  and  over  this  a  red  skin  with  points  of  gold.  My  Cid 
the  Campeador  alway  wore  it.  On  his  head  he  had  a  coif  of 
scarlet  wrought  with  gold,  which  was  made  that  none  might  clip 
the  hair  of  the  good  Cid.  His  was  a  long  beard,  and  he  bound  it 
with  a  cord.  And  he  bade  Alvar  Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez  as- 
semble their  companions,  and  when  he  saw  them  he  said,  If  the 
Infantes  of  Carrion  should  seek  a  quarrel,  where  I  have  a  hundred 
such  as  these  I  may  be  well  without  fear  !  And  he  said,  Let  us 
mount  no\v  and  go  to  the  Cortes.  We  go  to  make  one  defiance, 
and  peradventure  it  may  be  two  or  three,  through  the  folly  of 
those  who  may  stir  against  us.  Ye  will  be  ready  to  aid  me,  saying 
and  doing  as  I  shall  call  upon  ye,  alway  saving  the  honour  and 
authority  of  King  Don  Alfonso  out  Lord ;  see  now  that  none  of  ye 
say  or  do  ought  amiss,  for  it  would  be  unseemly.  Then  called 
he  for  his  horse,  and  bestrode  it,  and  rode  to  the  Cortes. 

VII.  My  Cid  and  his  company  alighted  at  the  gate  of  the  Pal- 
aces of  Galiana,  and  he  and  his  people  went  in  gravely,  he  in  the 
midst  and  his  hundred  knights  round  about  him.  When  he  who 
was  born  in  happy  hour  entered,  the  good  King  Don  Alfonso  rose 
up,  and  the  Counts  Don  Anrrich  and  Don  Remond  did  the  like, 
and  so  did  all  the  others,  save  the  curly-headed  one  of  Granon, 
and  they  who  were  on  the  side  of  the  Infantes  of  Carrion.  All 
the  others  received  him  with  great  honour,  and  he  said  unto  the 
King,  Sir,  where  do  you  bid  me  sit  with  these  my  kinsmen  and 
friends  who  are  come  with  me  ?  And  the  King  made  answer,  Cid, 
you  are  such  a  one,  and  have  passed  your  time  so  well  to  this  day. 
that  if  you  would  listen  to  me  and  be  commanded  by  me,  I  should 
hold  it  good  that  you  took  your  seat  with  me  ;  for  he  who  hath 
conquered  Kings,  ought  to  be  seated  with  Kings.  But  the  Cid 
answered,  That,  Sir,  would  not  please  God,  but  I  will  be  at  your 
feet :  for  by  the  favour  of  the  King  your  father  Don  Ferrando  was 
1  made,  his  creature  and  the  creature  of  your  brother  King  Don 
Sancho  am  I,  and  it  behoveth  not  that  he  who  receiveth  bounty 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  409 

should  sit  with  him  who  dispenseth  it.  And  the  King  answered, 
Since  you  will  not  sit  with  me,  sit  on  your  ivory  seat,  for  you  won 
it  like  a  good  man ;  and  from  this  day  I  order  that  none  except 
King  or  Prelate  sit  with  you,  for  you  have  conquered  so  many 
high-bora  men,  and  so  many  Kings,  both  Christians  and  Moors, 
that  for  this  reason  there  is  none  who  is  your  peer,  or  ought  to  be 
seated  with  you.  Sit  therefore  like  a  King  and  Lord  upon  your 
ivory  seat.  Then  the  Cid  kissed  the  King's  hand,  and  thanked 
him  for  what  he  had  said,  and  for  the  honour  which  he  had  done 
him  ;  and  he  took  his  seat,  and  his  hundred  knights  seated  them- 
selves round  about  him.  All  who  were  in  the  Cortes  sat  looking 
at  my  Cid  and  at  his  long  beard  which  he  had  bound  with  a  cord ; 
but  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  could  not  look  upon  him  for  shame. 

VIII.  When  they  were  all  seated  the  King  gave  command  that 
they  should  be  silent ;  and  when  the  Cid  saw  that  they  were  all 
still,  he  rose  and  spake  after  this  manner.     Sir  King  Don  Alfonso, 
I  beseech  you  of  your  mercy  that  you  would  hear  me,  and  give 
command  that  I  should  be  heard,  and  that  you  would  suffer  none 
to  interrupt  me,  for  I  am  not  a  man  of  speech,  neither  know  I  how 
to  set  forth  my  words,  and  if  they  interrupt  me  I  shall  be  worse. 
Moreover,  Sir,  give  command  that  none  be  bold  enough  to  utter 
unseemly  words,  nor  be  insolent  towards  me,  lest  we  should  come 
to  strife  in  your  presence.    Then  King  Don  Alfonso  rose  and  said, 
Hear  me,  as  God  shall  help  you  !     Since  I  have  been  King  I  have 
held  only  two  Cortes,  one  in  Burgos,  and  one  in  Carrion.     This 
third  I  have  assembled  here  in  Toledo  for  the  love  of  the  Cid, 
that  he  may  demand  justice  against  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  for  the 
wrongs  which  we  all  know.     The  Counts  Don  Anrrich  and  Don 
Remond  shall  be  Alcaldes  in  this  cause ;  and  these  other  Counts 
who  are  not  on  either  side,  give  ye  all  good  heed,  for  ye  are  to 
take  cognizance  that  the  right  may  be  decreed.    And  I  give  order, 
and  forbid  any  one  to  speak  without  my  command,  or  to  utter 
ought  insolent  against  the  Cid;  and  I  swear  by  St.  Isidro,  that 
whosoever  shall  disturb  the  Cortes  shall  lose  my  love  and  be  ban- 
ished from  the  kingdom.     I  am  on  the  side  of  him  who  shall  be 
found  to  have  the  right.     Then  those  Counts  who  were  appointed 
Alcaldes  were  sworn  upon  the  Holy  Gospels,  that  they  would  judge 
between  the  Cid  and  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  rightly  and  truly, 
according  to  the  law  of  Castile  and  Leon. 

IX.  When  this  was  done  the  King  bade  the  Cid  make  his  de 
mand  ;  and  the  Cid  rose  and  said,  Sir,  there  is  no  reison  for  making 
long  speeches  here,  which  would  detain  the  Cortes.     I  demand  of 


410  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  before  you,  two  swords  which  I  gave  into 
their  keeping ;  the  one  is  Colada  and  the  other  Tizona.  I  won 
them  like  a  man,  and  gave  them  to  the  keeping  of  the  Infantes 
that  they  might  honour  my  daughters  with  them,  and  serve  you. 
When  they  left  my  daughters  in  the  Oak- forest  of  Corpes  they 
chose  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  me,  and  renounced  my  love ;  let 
them  therefore  give  me  back  the  swords,  seeing  that  they  are  no 
longer  my  sons-in-law.  Then  the  King  commanded  the  Alcaldes 
to  judge  upon  this  demand  according  as  they  should  find  the  right ; 
and  they  took  counsel  and  judged,  that  the  swords  should  be  re- 
stored unto  the  Cid.  And  Count  Don  Garcia  said  they  would  talk 
concerning  it ;  and  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  talked  apart  with  those 
who  were  on  their  side,  and  they  thought  that  they  were  well  off; 
for  that  the  Cid  would  demand  nothing  more  of  them,  but  would 
leave  the  Cortes  when  he  had  recovered  the  swords.  So  they 
brought  the  swords  Colada  and  Tizona,  and  delivered  them  to  the 
King.  The  King  drew  the  swords,  and  the  whole  Court  shone 
with  their  brightness  :  their  hilts  were  of  solid  gold  ;  all  the  good 
men  of  the  Cortes  marvelled  at  them.  And  the  Cid  rose  and  re- 
ceived them,  and  kissed  the  King's  hand,  and  went  back  to  his 
ivory  seat ;  and  he  took  the  swords  in  his  hand  and  looked  at 
them  ;  they  could  not  change  them,  for  the  Cid  knew  them  well, 
and  his  whole  frame  rejoiced,  and  he  smiled  from  his  heart.  And 
he  laid  them  upon  his  lap  and  said,  Ah,  my  swords,  Colada  and 
Tizona,  truly  may  I  say  of  you,  that  you  are  the  best  swords  in 
Spain ;  and  I  won  you,  for  I  did  not  get  you  either  by  buying  or 
by  barter.  I  gave  ye  in  keeping  to  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  that 
they  might  do  honour  to  my  daughters  with  ye.  But  ye  were  not 
for  them  !  they  kept  ye  hungry,  and  did  not  feed  ye  with  flesh  as 
ye  were  wont  to  be  fed.  Well  it  is  for  you  that  ye  have  escaped 
that  thraldom  and  are  come  again  to  my  hands,  and  happy  man 
am  I  to  recover  you.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  rose  and  kissed  the  hand 
of  the  Cid,  and  said,  I  beseech  you  give  Colada  into  my  keeping 
while  this  Cortes  shall  last,  that  I  may  defend  you  therewith  :  and 
the  Cid  gave  it  him  and  said,  take  it,  it  hath  changed  its  master 
for  the  better.  And  Pero  Bermudez  rose  and  made  the  same 
demand  for  the  sword  Tizona,  and  the  Cid  gave  it  him  in  like 
manner.  Then  the  Cid  laid  hand  upon  his  beard  as  he  was  wont 
to  do,  and  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and  they  who  were  of  their  side 
thought  that  he  meant  to  disturb  the  Cortes,  and  they  were  greatly 
afraid ;  but  he  sat  still  like  a  man  of  good  understanding,  for  he 
was  not  one  who  did  things  lightly. 


RODJIIGO  DIAZ.   DE  BIVAR.  4H 

X.  Then  the  Cid  rose  and  said,  Thanks  be  to  God  and  to  you, 
Sir  King,  I  have  recovered  my  swords  Colada  and  Tizona.  I  have 
now  another  demand  against  the  Infantes  of  Carrion.  King  Don 
Alfonso,  you  well  know  that  it  was  your  pleasure  to  bid  me  meet 
you  at  Requena,  and  I  went  there  in  obedience  to  your  command. 
And  you  asked  of  me  my  daughters  in  marriage  for  the  Infantes, 
and  I  did  not  refuse,  in  that  I  would  not  disobey  your  command  ; 
and  you  bade  me  deliver  them  to  my  kinsman  here  Don  Alvar 
Fanez,  and  he  gave  them  to  the  Infantes  to  be  their  wives,  and 
the  blessing  was  given  them  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  according 
to  the  law  of  Rome.  You,  Sir,  gave  them  in  marriage,  not  I ;  and 
you  did  it  for  good,  not  for  evil ;  but  what  they  did  was  after  an- 
other wise.  And  though  they  are  of  great  blood  and  honourable, 
yet  would  I  not  have  given  my  daughters  to  them,  unless  in  obe- 
dience to  your  command ;  and  this,  Sir,  you  well  know,  for  so  I 
said  unto  you.  I  gave  them,  when  they  took  my  daughters  from 
Valencia,  horses  and  mules,  and  cups  and  vessels  of  fine  gold,  and 
much  wrought  silver,  and  many  noble  garments,  and  other  gifts, 
three  thousand  marks  of  silver  in  all,  thinking  that  I  gave  it  to 
my  daughters  whom  I  loved.  Now,  Sir,  since  they  have  cast  my 
daughters  off.  and  hold  themselves  to  have  been  dishonoured  in 
marrying  them,  give  command  that  they  restore  unto  me  this  which 
is  my  own,  or  that  they  show  cause  why  they  should  not.  Then 
might  you  have  seen  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  in  great  chafing.  And 
Count  Don  Remond  called  upon  them  to  speak ;  and  they  said, 
\Ve  gave  his  swords  to  the  Cid  Campeador,  that  he  might  ask 
nothing  more  of  us,  if  it  please  the  King.  But  the  King  said  that 
they  must  answer  to  the  demand.  And  they  asked  to  consult  to- 
gether concerning  it ;  and  the  King  bade  them  take  counsel  and 
make  answer  incontinently.  So  they  went  apart,  and  with  them 
eleven  Counts  and  Ricos-omes  who  were  on  their  side,  but  no 
right  or  reason  could  they  find  for  opposing  this  demand  which 
the  Cid  had  made.  Howbeit  Count  Don  Garcia  spake  for  them 
and  said,  Sir,  this  which  the  Cid  demands  back  from  them,  it  is 
true  that  he  gave  it,  but  they  have  expended  it  in  your  service  : 
we  hold  therefore  that  they  are  not  bound  to  make  restitution  of 
it,  seeing  how  it  hath  been  expended.  Nevertheless  if  you  hold  it 
to  be  lawful  that  they  should  restore  this  money,  give  order  that 
time  be  given  them  to  make  the  payment,  and  they  will  go  to 
Carrion,  their  inheritance,  and  there  discharge  the  demand  as  you 
shall  decree.  When  the  Count  had  thus  said  he  sat  down.  And 
the  Cid  arose  and  said,  Sir,  if  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  have  expended 


412  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

aught  in  your  service,  it  toucheth  not  me.  You  and  the  Alcaldes 
whom  you  have  appointed  have  heard  them  admit  that  I  gave  them 
this  treasure,  and  this  excuse  which  they  set  up ;  I  pray  you  let 
judgment  be  given  whether  they  are  bound  to  pay  it  or  not.  Then 
King  Don  Alfonso  answered  and  said,  If  the  Infantes  of  Carrion 
have  expended  aught  in  my  service,  I  am  bound  to  repay  it,  for 
the  Cid  must  not  lose  what  is  his  own  :  and  he  bade  the  Alcaldes 
consult  together  and  judge  according  to  what  they  should  find 
right.  And  the  Alcaldes  having  taken  counsel  gave  judgment,  that 
seeing  the  Infantes  acknowledged  the  Cid  had  given  them  this 
treasure  with  his  daughters,  and  they  had  abandoned  them  they 
must  needs  make  restitution  in  the  Cortes  of  the  King  there-right : 
and  the  King  confirmed  this  sentence,  and  the  Cid  rose  and  kissed 
the  King's  hand.  Greatly  were  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  troubled  at 
this  sentence,  and  they  besought  the  King  that  he  would  obtain 
time  for  them  from  the  Cid,  in  which  to  make  their  payment ;  and 
the  King  besought  him  to  grant  them  fifteen  days,  after  this  man- 
ner, that  they  should  not  depart  from  the  Court  till  they  had  made 
the  payment,  and  that  they  should  plight  homage  for  the  observ- 
ance of  this.  And  the  Cid  granted  what  the  King  desired,  and 
they  plighted  homage  accordingly  in  the  hands  of  the  King.  Then 
made  they  their  account  with  the  King,  and  it  was  found  that  what 
they  had  expended  for  his  service  was  two  hundred  marks  of  silver, 
and  the  King  said  that  he  would  repay  this,  so  that  there  remained 
for  them  two  thousand  and  eight  hundred  to  pay.  Who  can  tell 
the  trouble  in  which  the  Infantes  were,  to  pay  this  treasure  to  the 
Cid,  they  and  all  their  kindred  and  friends,  for  it  was  full  hard  for 
them  to  accomplish.  And  they  took  up  upon  trust  horses  and 
mules  and  wrought  silver,  and  other  precious  things,  and  as  they 
could  get  them,  delivered  them  over  to  the  Cid.  Then  might  you 
have  seen  many  a  good-going  horse  brought  there,  and  many  a 
good  mule,  and  many  a  good  palfrey,  and  many  a  good  sword 
with  its  mountings.  And  they  sent  to  Carrion  to  their  father  and 
mother  to  help  them,  for  they  were  in  great  trouble ;  and  they 
raised  for  them  all  they  could,  so  that  they  made  up  the  sum  with- 
in the  time  appointed.  And  then  they  thought  that  the  matter 
was  at  an  end,  and  that  nothing  more  would  be  demanded  from 
them. 

XI.  After  this  payment  had  been  made  the  Cortes  assembled 
again,  and  the  King  and  all  the  honourable  men  being  each  in  his 
place,  the  Cid  rose  from  his  ivory  seat,  and  said,  Sir,  praise  be  to 
God  and  your  favour,  I  have  recovered  my  swords,  and  my  treas- 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  413 

ure ;  now  then  I  pray  you  let  this  other  demand  be  heard  which  I 
have  to  make  against  the  Infantes.  Full  hard  it  is  for  me  to  make 
it,  though  I  have  it  rooted  in  my  heart !  I  say  then,  let  them  make 
answer  before  you,  and  tell  why  it  was  that  they  besought  you  to 
marry  them  with  my  daughters,  and  why  they  took  them  away  from  me 
from  Valencia,  when  they  had  it  in  heart  to  dishonour  me,  and  to 
strike  them,  and  leave  them  as  they  were  left,  in  the  Oak-forest  of 
Corpes  ?  Look,  Sir,  what  dishonour  they  did  them  !  they  stripped 
them  of  the  garments  which  they  had  not  given  them,  as  if  they  had 
been  bad  women,  and  the  children  of  a  bad  father.  With  less  than 
mortal  defiance  I  shall  not  let  them  go  !  ...  How  had  I  deserved 
this,  Infantes,  at  your  hands  ?  I  gave  you  my  daughters  to  take  with 
you  from  Valencia ;  with  great  honour  and  great  treasures  gave  I 
them  unto  you ;  .  .  Dogs  and  Traitors,  .  .  ye  took  them  from  Va- 
lencia when  ye  did  not  love  them,  and  with  your  bridles  ye  smote, 
and  with  your  spurs  ye  spurned  and  wounded  them,  and  ye  left 
them  alone  in  the  Oak-forest,  to  the  wild  beasts,  and  to  the  birds 
of  the  mountain  !  King  Don  Alfonso,  they  neither  remembered 
God,  nor  you,  nor  me,  nor  their  own  good  fortune  !  And  here 
was  fulfilled  the  saying  of  the  wise  man,  that  harder  it  is  for  those 
who  have  no  understanding  to  bear  with  good  than  with  evil. 
Praise  be  to  God  and  to  your  grace,  such  a  one  am  I,  and  such 
favour  hath  God  shown  me,  from  the  day  when  I  first  had  horse 
and  arms,  until  now,  that  not  only  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  but 
saving  yourself,  Sir,  there  is  not  a  King  in  Christendom  who  might 
not  think  himself  honoured  in  marrying  with  either  of  my  daugh- 
ters, .  .  how  much  more  then  these  traitors  !  .  .  .  I  beseech  you 
give  me  justice  upon  them  for  the  evil  and  dishonour  which  they 
have  done  me  !  And  if  you  and  your  Cortes  will  not  right  me, 
through  the  mercy  of  God  and  my  own  good  cause,  I  will  take  it 
myself,  for  the  offence  which  they  have  committed  against  God 
and  the  faith,  and  the  truth  which  they  promised  and  vowed  to 
their  wives.  I  will  pull  them  down  from  the  honour  in  which  they 
now  are  ;  better  men  than  they  have  I  conquered  and  made  pris- 
oners ere  now  !  and  with  your  licence,  Sir,  to  Carrion  will  I  follow 
them,  even  to  their  inheritance,  and  there  will  I  besiege  them,  and 
take  them  by  the  throat,  and  carry  them  prisoners  to  Valencia  to 
my  daughters,  and  there  make  them  do  penance  for  the  crime 
which  they  have  committed,  and  feed  them  with  the  food  which 
they  deserve.  If  I  do  not  perform  this,  call  me  a  flat  traitor. 
When  the  King  heard  this  he  rose  up  and  said,  that  it  might  be 
seen  how  he  was  offended  in  this  thing.  Certes,  Cid  Ruydiez 


414  CHROX1CI.E    OF  THE   CID, 

Campeador,  I  asked  your  daughters  of  you  for  the  Infantes  of 
Carrion,  because,  as  they  well  know,  they  besought  me  to  do  so,  I 
never  having  thought  thereof.  It  well  seemeth  now  that  they  were 
not  pleased  with  this  marriage  which  I  made  at  their  request,  and 
great  part  of  the  dishonour  which  they  have  done  you,  toucheth 
me.  But  seeing  ye  are  here  in  my  presence,  it  is  not  fitting 
that  you  make  your  demand  in  any  other  manner  than  through 
my  Cortes;  do  you  therefore  accuse  them,  and  let  them  acquit 
themselves  if  they  can  before  my  Alcaldes,  who  will  pass  sentence 
according  to  what  is  right.  And  the  Cid  kissed  the  King's  hand, 
and  returned  to  his  place  upon  the  ivory  seat. 

XII.  Then  the  Cid  arose  and  said,  God  prosper  you,  Sir,  in  life, 
and  honour,  and  estate,  since  you  have  compassion  for  me  and  for 
the  dishonour  which  my  daughters  have  received.  And  he  turned 
towards  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  and  said,  Ferrando  Gonzalez  and 
Diego  Gonzalez,  I  say  that  ye  are  false  traitors  for  leaving  your 
wives  as  ye  left  them  in  the  Oak-forest ;  and  here  before  the  King 
I  attaint  you  as  false  traitors,  and  defy  you,  and  will  produce  your 
peers  who  shall  prove  it  upon  you,  and  slay  you  or  thrust  you  out  of 
the  lists,  or  make  you  confess  it  in  your  throats.  And  they  were 
silent.  And  the  King  said,  that  seeing  they  were  there  present. 
they  should  make  answer  to  what  the  Cid  had  said.  Then  Fer- 
rando Gonzalez  the  elder  arose  and  said,  Sir,  we  are  your  subjects, 
of  your  kingdom  of  Castile,  and  of  the  best  hidalgos  therein,  sons 
of  the  Count  Don  Gonzalo  Gonzalez  ;  and  we  hold  that  men  of 
such  station  as  ourselves  were  not  well  married  with  the  daughters 
of  Ruydiez  of  Bivar.  And  for  this  reason  we  forsook  them,  be- 
cause they  come  not  of  blood  fit  for  our  wives,  for  one  lineage  is 
above  another.  Touching  what  he  says,  that  we  forsook  them,  he 
saith  truly ;  and  we  hold  that  in  so  doing  we  did  nothing  wrong, 
for  they  were  not  worthy  to  be  our  wives,  and  we  are  more  to  be 
esteemed  for  having  left  them,  than  we  were  while  they  were 
wedded  with  us.  Now  then,  Sir,  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
do  battle  upon  this  matter  with  any  one.  And  Diego  Gonzalez 
his  brother  arose  and  said,  You  know,  Sir,  what  perfect  men  we 
are  in  our  lineage,  and  it  did  not  befit  us  to  be  married  with  the 
daughters  of  such  a  one  as  Ruydiez ;  and  when  he  had  said  this 
he  held  his  peace  and  sat  down.  Then  Count  Don  Garcia  rose 
and  said,  Come  away,  Infantes,  and  let  us  leave  the  Cid  sitting 
like  a  bridegroom  in  his  ivory  chair :  .  .  he  lets  his  beard  grow  and 
thinks  to  frighten  us  with  it !  .  .  The  Campeador  put  up  his  hand 
to  his  beard,  and  said,  What  hast  thou  to  do  with  my  beard,  Count? 


m\ 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BIl'AK. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  it  is  long  because  it  hath  been  kept  for 
pleasure  :  never  son  of  woman  hath  taken  me  by  it  ;  never  son  of 
Moor  or  of  Christian  hath  plucked  it,  as  I  did  yours  in  your  castle 
of  Cabra,  Count,  when  I  took  your  castle  of  Cabra,  and  took  you 
by  the  beard  ;  there  was  not  a  boy  of  the  host  but  had  his  pull  at 
it,  what  I  plucked  then  is  not  yet  methinks  grown  even  !  .  .  And 
the  Count  cried  out  again,  Come  away,  Infantes,  and  leave  him  ! 
Let  him  go  back  to  Rio  de  Ovierna,  to  his  own  country,  and  set 
up  his  mills,  and  take  toll  as  he  used  to  do  !  .  .  he  is  not  your  peer 
that  you  should  strive  with  him.  At  this  the  knights  of  the  Cid 
looked  at  each  other  with  fierce  eyes  and  wrathful  countenances  ; 
but  none  of  them  dared  speak  till  the  Cid  bade  them,  because  of 
the  command  which  he  had  given. 

XIII.  When  the  Cid  saw  that  none  of  his  people  made  answer 
he  turned  to  Pero  Bermudez  artti  said,  Speak,  Pero  Mudo,  what 
art  thou  silent  for  ?  He  called  him  Mudo,  which  is  to  say,  Dumb-ee, 
because  he  snaffled  and  stuttered  when  he  began  to  speak  ;  and 
Pero  Bermudez  was  wroth  that  he  should  be  so  called  before  all  that 
assembly.  And  he  said,  I  tell  you  what,  Cid,  you  always  call  me 
Dumb-ee  in  Court,  and  you  know  I  cannot  help  my  words  ;  but 
when  anything  is  to  be  done,  it  shall  not  fail  for  me.  And  in  his 
anger  he  forgot  what  the  Cid  had  said  to  him  and  to  the  others 
that  they  should  make  no  broil  before  the  King.  And  he  gathered 
up  his  cloak  under  his  arm  and  went  up  to  the  eleven  Counts  who 
were  against  the  Cid,  to  Count  Garcia,  and  when  he  was  nigh  him 
he  clenched  his  fist,  and  gave  him  a  blow  which  brought  him  to 
the  ground.  Then  was  the  whole  Cortes  in  an  uproar  by  reason 
of  that  blow,  and  many  swords  were  drawn,  and  on  one  side  the 
cry  was  Cabra  and  Granon,  and  on  the  other  side  it  was  Valencia 
and  Bivar  ;  but  the  strife  was  in  such  sort  that  the  Counts  in  short 
time  voided  the  Palace.  King  Don  Alfonso  meantime  cried  out 
aloud,  forbidding  them  to  fight  before  him,  and  charging  them  to 
look  to  his  honour  ;  and  the  Cid  then  strove  what  he  could  to 
quiet  his  people,  saying  to  the  King,  Sir,  you  saw  that  I  could 
bear  it  no  longer,  being  thus  maltreated  in  your  presence  ;  it 
it  had  not  been  before  you,  well  would  I  have  had  him  punished. 
Then  the  King  sent  to  call  those  Counts  who  had  been  driven  out  : 
and  they  came  again  to  the  Palace,  though  they  fain  would  not. 
complaining  of  the  dishonour  which  they  had  received.  And  tin- 
King  said  unto  them  that  they  should  defend  themselves  with 
courtesy  and  reason,  and  not  revile  the  Cid,  who  was  not  a  man 
to  be  reviled  ;  and  he  said  that  he  would  defend  as  far  as  he  could 


416  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

the  rights  of  both  parties.     Then  they  took  their  seats  on  the 
estrados  as  before. 

XIV.  And  Pero  Bermudez  rose  and  said  to  Count  Garcia,  Foul 
mouth,  in  which  God  hath  put  no  truth,  thou  hast  dared  let  thy 
tongue  loose  to  speak  of  the  Cid's  beard.     His  is  a  praiseworthy 
beard,  and  an  honourable  one,  and  one  that  is  greatly  feared,  and 
that  never  hath  been  dishonoured,  nor  overcome  !   and  if  you 
please,  you  may  remember  when  he  fought  against  you  in  Cabra, 
hundred  to  hundred,  he  threw  you  from  your  horse,  and  took  thee 
by  the  beard,  and  made  thee  and  thy  knights  prisoners,  and  carried 
thee  prisoner  away  across  a  packsaddle ;  and  his  knights  pulled 
thy  beard  for  thee,  and  I  who  stand  here  had  a  good  handful  of 
it :  how  then  shall  a  beard  that  hath  been  pulled  speak  against  one 
that  hath  alway  been  honourable  !     If  you  deny  this,  I  will  fight 
you  upon  this  quarrel  before  th*  King  our  Lord.     Then  Count 
Suero  Gonzalez  rose  in  great  haste  and  said,  Nephews,  go  you 
away  and  leave  these  rascally  companions  :  if  they  are  for  fighting, 
we  will  give  them  their  fill  of  that,  if  our  Lord  the  King  should 
think  good  so  to  command ;  that  shall  not  fail  for  us,  though  they 
are  not  our  peers.     Then  Don  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya  arose  and  said, 
Hold  thy  peace,  Count  Suero  Gonzalez  !  you  have  been  to  break- 
fast before  you  said  your  prayers,  and  your  words  are  more  like  a 
drunkard's  than  one  who  is  in  his  senses.     Your  kinsmen  like  those 
of  the  Cid  !  ...  if  it  were  not  out  of  reverence  to  my  Lord  the 
King,  I  would  teach  you  never  to  talk  again  in  this  way.     And 
then  the  King  saw  that  these  words  were  going  on  to  worse,  and 
moreover  that  they  were  nothing  to  the  business ;  and  he  com- 
manded them  to  be  silent,  and  said,  I  will  determine  this  business 
of  the  defiance  with  the  Alcaldes,  as  shall  be  found  right ;  and  I 
will  not  have  these  disputes  carried  on  before  me,  lest  you  should 
raise  another  uproar  in  my  presence. 

XV.  Then  the  King  arose  and  called  to  the  Alcaldes,  and  went 
apart  with  them  into  a  chamber,  and  the  Cid  and  all  the  others 
remained  in  the  Hall.     And  when  the  King  and  the  Alcaldes  had 
taken  counsel  together  concerning  what  was  right  in  this  matter, 
they  came  out  from  the  chamber,  and  the  King  went  and  seated 
himself  in  his  chair,  and  the  Alcaldes  each  in  his  place,  and  they 
commanded  all  persons  to  be  silent  and  hear  the  sentence  which 
the  King  should  give.     Then  the  King  spake  thus  :  I  have  taken 
counsel  with  these  Counts  whom  I  appointed  to  be  Alcaldes  in  this 
cause  between  the  Cid  and  the  Infantes  of  Carrion,  and  with  other 
honourable  and  learned  men :  and  this  is  the  sentence  which  I 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAK.  417 

give ;  that  both  the  Infantes  and  Count  Suero  Gonzalez  their 
fosterer  and  uncle,  forasmuch  as  it  is  given  me  to  understand  that 
he  was  the  adviser  and  abettor  in  the  dishonour  which  they  did 
unto  the  daughters  of  the  Cid,  shall  do  battle  with  such  three  of 
the  Cid's  people  as  it  may  please  him  to  appoint,  and  thereby 
acquit  themselves  if  they  can.  When  the  King  had  given  this 
sentence,  the  Cid  rose  and  kissed  his  hand  and  said,  May  God 
have  you,  Sir,  in  his  holy  keeping  long  and  happy  years,  seeing 
you  have  judged  justly,  as  a  righteous  King  and  our  natural  Lord. 
I  receive  your  sentence ;  and  now  do  I  perceive  that  it  is  your 
pleasure  to  show  favour  unto  me,  and  to  advance  mine  honour, 
and  for  this  reason  I  shall  ever  be  at  your  service.  Then  Pero 
Bermudez  rose  up  and  went  to  the  Cid  and  said,  A  boon,  Sir  !  I 
beseech  you  let  me  be  one  of  those  who  shall  do  battle  on  your 
part,  for  such  a  one  do  I  hold  myself  to  be,  and  this  which  they 
have  done  is  so  foul  a  thing,  that  I  trust  in  God  to  take  vengeance 
for  it.  And  the  Cid  made  answer  that  he  was  well  pleased  it 
should  be  so,  and  that  he  should  do  battle  with  Ferrando  Gon- 
zalez the  eldest ;  and  upon  that  Pero  Bermudez  kissed  his  hand. 
Then  Martin  Antolinez  of  Burgos  rose  and  besought  the  Cid  that 
he  might  be  another,  and  the  Cid  granted  his  desire,  and  said  that 
he  should  do  battle  with  Diego  Gonzalez  the  younger  brother. 
And  then  Muno  Gustioz  of  Linquella  rose  and  besought  the  Cid 
that  he  might  be  the  third,  and  the  Cid  granted  it,  and  appointed 
him  to  do  battle  with  Count  Suero  Gonzalez.  And  when  the  Cid 
had  appointed  his  three  champions,  the  King  gave  command  that 
the  combat  should  be  performed  on  the  morrow ;  but  the  Infantes 
were  not  prepared  to  fight  so  soon,  and  they  besought  him  of  his 
favour  that  he  would  let  them  go  to  Carrion,  and  that  they  would 
come  prepared  for  the  battle.  And  the  King  would  not  allow  this 
time  which  they  requested ;  howbeit  the  Counts  Don  Anrrich  and 
Don  Remond  his  sons-in-law,  and  Count  Don  Nuno,  spake  with 
him,  and  besought  him  of  his  grace  that  he  would  allow  them  three 
weeks  ;  and  the  King  at  their  entreaty  granted  it  with  the  pleasure 
of  the  Cid. 

XVI.  Now  when  all  this  had  been  appointed,  as  ye  have  heard, 
and  while  they  were  all  in  the  court,  there  came  unto  the  Palace 
messengers  from  the  Kings  of  Arragon  and  of  Navarre,  who  brought 
letters  to  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  to  the  Cid  Campeador,  wherein 
those  Kings  sent  to  ask  the  daughters  of  the  Cid  in  marriage,  the 
one  for  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  of  Arragon,  the  other  for  the  In- 
fante Garcia  Ramirez  of  Navarre.  And  when  they  came  before 


418  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

the  King,  they  bent  their  knees  and  gave  him  the  letters,  and  de- 
livered their  message ;  the  like  did  they  to  the  Cid.  Much  were 
the  King  and  the  Cid  also  pleased  at  this  news,  and  the  King  said 
unto  him,  What  say  you  to  this?  And  the  Cid  answered,  I  and 
my  daughters  are  at  your  disposal,  do  you  with  us  as  you  shall 
think  good.  And  the  King  said,  I  hold  it  good  that  they  wed  with 
these  Infantes,  and  that  from  henceforward  they  be  Queens  and 
ladies ;  and  that  for  the  dishonour  which  they  have  received,  they 
now  receive  this  honour.  And  the  Cid  rose  and  kissed  the  hands 
of  the  King,  and  all  his  knights  did  the  like.  These  messengers 
hight,  he  of  Arragon  Ynigo  Ximenez,  and  he  of  Navarre  Ochoa 
Perez.  And  the  King  gave  order  that  his  letters  of  consent  to 
these  marriages  should  be  given,  and  the  Cid  did  the  like.  And 
those  knights  did  homage  before  the  King,  that  in  three  months 
from  that  day  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and  Navarre  should  come 
to  Valencia,  to  the  Cid,  to  be  wedded  to  his  daughters.  Great 
joy  had  the  companions  of  the  Cid  that  these  marriages  were  ap- 
pointed, seeing  how  their  honour  was  increased  ;  and  contrariwise, 
great  was  the  sorrow  of  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and  their  friends, 
because  it  was  to  their  confusion  and  great  shame.  And  King 
Don  Alfonso  said  aloud  unto  the  Cid  before  them  all,  Praised  be 
the  name  of  God  because  it  hath  pleased  him  that  the  dishonour 
which  was  done  to  me  and  to  you  in  your  daughters,  should  thus 
be  turned  into  honour :  for  they  were  the  wives  of  the  sons  of 
Counts,  and  now  shall  they  be  the  wives  of  the  sons  of  Kings,  and 
Queens  hereafter.  Great  was  the  pleasure  of  the  Cid  and  his 
company  at  these  words  of  the  King,  for  before  they  had  sorrow, 
and  now  it  was  turned  into  joy.  And  the  Infantes  went  away  from 
the  Palace  full  sadly,  and  went  to  their  lodging,  and  prepared  to 
go  to  Carrion  that  they  might  make  ready  for  the  combat,  which 
was  to  be  in  three  weeks  from  that  time. 

XVII.  Then  the  Cid  said  unto  the  King,  Sir,  I  have  appointed 
those  who  are  to  do  battle  with  the  Infantes  and  their  uncle  for 
the  enmity  and  treason  which  they  committed  against  me  and  my 
daughters ;  and  now,  Sir,  as  there  is  nothing  more  for  me  to  do 
here,  I  will  leave  them  in  your  hand,  knowing  that  you  will  not 
suffer  them  to  receive  any  displeasure  or  wrong  soever,  and  that 
you  will  defend  their  right.  And  if  it  please  you  I  would  fain  re- 
turn to  Valencia,  where  I  have  left  my  wife  and  daughters,  and  my 
other  companions ;  for  I  would  not  that  the  Moors  should  rise  up 
against  me  during  my  absence,  thinking  peradventure  that  I  have 
not  sped  so  well  in  this  matter  as  I  have  done,  praised  be  God 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DP.    P,I]'AR.  419 

and  you.  And  moreover  I  have  to  make  ready  for  these  marriages 
which  you  have  now  appointed.  And  the  King  bade  him  go  when 
he  pleased,  and  good  fortune  with  him,  and  said  that  he  would 
protect  his  knights  and  maintain  his  right  in  all  things.  Then  the 
Cid  kissed  the  King's  hand  for  this  which  he  had  said,  and  com- 
mended the  knights  to  his  keeping.  And  the  King  called  for 
Count  Don  Remond  his  son-in-law,  and  gave  the  knights  of  the 
Cid  to  his  charge,  and  bade  them  not  depart  from  him ;  and  then 
the  King  rose  and  returned  to  the  Alcazar. 

XVIII.  Then  the  Cid  took  off  his  coif  of  ranzal,  which  was  as 
white  as  the  sun,  and  he  loosed  his  beard,  and  took  it  out  of  the 
cord  with  which  it  was  bound.     All  they  who  were  there  could 
not  be  satisfied  with  looking  at  him.    And  the  Counts  Don  Anrrich 
and  Don  Remond  came  up  to  him,  and  he  embraced  them,  and 
thanked  them  and  the  other  good  men  who  had  been  Alcaldes  in 
this  business,  for  maintaining  his  right ;  and  he  promised  to  do  for 
them  in  requital  whatever  they  might  require ;  and  he  besought 
them  to  accept  part  of  his  treasures.     And  they  thanked  him  for 
his  offer,  but  said  that  it  was  not  seemly.     Howbeit  he  sent  great 
presents  to  each  of  them,  and  some  accepted  them  and  some  did 
not.     Who  can  tell  how  nobly  the  Cid  distributed  his  treasure  be- 
fore he  departed  !     And  he  forgave  the  King  the  two  hundred 
marks  which  should  have  been  paid  on  account  of  the  Infantes. 
And  to  the  knights  who  had  come  from  Arragon  and  Navarre  con- 
cerning the  marriages,  he  gave  -  many  horses,  and  money  in  gold, 
and  sent  them  with  great  honour  into  their  own  country. 

XIX.  On  the  morrow  the  Cid  went  to  take  leave  of  the  King, 
and  the  King  went  some  way  out  of  the  town  with  him,  and  all 
the  good  men  who  were  in  the  court  also,  to  do  him  honour  as  lie 
deserved.    And  when  he  was  about  to  dispeed  himself  of  the  King 
they  brought  him  his  precious  horse  Bavieca,  and  he  turned  to  the 
King  and  said,  Sir,  I  should  depart  ill  from  hence  if  I  took  with 
me  so  good  a  horse  as  my  Bavieca,  and  did  not  leave  him  for  you, 
for  such  horse  as  this  is  fit  for  you  and  for  no  other  master :  and 
that  you  may  see  what  he  is,  I  will  do  before  you  what  it  is  long 
since  I  have  done  except  in  the  battles  which  I  have  had  with  my 
enemies.     Then  he  mounted  his  horse,  with  his  ermine  housings, 
and  gave  him  the  spur.     Who  can  tell  the  goodness  of  the  horse 
Bavieca,  and  of  the  Cid  who  rode  him?    And  as  the  Cid  was  doing 
this  the  horse  brake  one  of  his  reins,  yet  he  came  and  stopped  be- 
fore the  King  as  easily  as  if  both  the  reins  had  been  whole.   Greatly 
did  the  King  and  all  they  who  were  with  him  marvel  at  this,  saying 


420  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

that  they  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  so  good  a  horse  as  that.  And 
the  Cid  besought  the  King  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  take  the 
horse,  but  the  King  answered,  God  forbid  that  I  should  take  him  ! 
.  .  rather  would  I  give  you  a  better  if  I  had  one,  for  he  is  better 
bestowed  on  you  than  on  me  or  any  other,  for  upon  that  horse  you 
have  done  honour  to  yourself,  and  to  us,  and  to  all  Christendom, 
by  the  good  feats  which  you  have  achieved.  Let  him  go  as  mine, 
and  I  will  take  him  when  I  please.  Then  the  Cid  kissed  the 
King's  hand  and  dispeeded  himself,  and  the  King  embraced  him 
and  returned  to  Toledo. 

XX.  Now  when  the  Cid  had  taken  leave  of  the  King  and  of  the 
other  honourable  men  and  Counts,  and  Ricos-omes  who  were  with 
him,  Pero  Bermudez  and  Martin  Antolinez  and  Muno  Gustioz  went 
on  yet  awhile  with  him  :  and  he  counselled  them  how  to  demean 
themselves  so  as  to  clear  him  of  the  shame  which  had  been  done 
him,  and  to  be  held  for  good  knights  themselves  and  to  take  ven- 
geance for  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  for  him,  and  for  themselves,  that 
he  might  receive  good  tiding  from  them  in  Valencia.  And  they 
took  his  counsel  well,  as  they  afterwards  manifested  when  there 
was  occasion.  But  Martin  Antolinez  made  answer,  Why  do  you  say 
this,  Sir?  we  have  undertaken  the  business  and  we  shall  go  through 
it :  and  they  said  unto  him,  God  have  you  in  his  guidance,  Sir,  and 
be  you  sure  and  certain,  that  by  the  mercy  and  help  of  God  we  shall 
so  demean  ourselves  as  to  come  to  you  without  shame.  But  if  for 
our  sins  it  should  betide  otherwise,  never  more  shall  we  appear 
before  you  dead  or  living,  .  .  for  slain  we  may  be,  but  never  van- 
quished. Then  he  bade  them  return  to  the  King,  praying  to  God 
to  have  them  in  his  keeping,  and  assist  them  in  fulfilling  their 
demand,  as  he  knew  that  their  cause  was  right. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  42i 


BOOK   X. 

I.  Now  King  Alfonso  misdoubted  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  that 
they  would  not  appear  at  the  time  appointed,  and  therefore  he 
said  that  he  would  go  to  Carrion,  and  the  battle  should  be  fought 
there.    And  he  took  with  him  the  Counts  whom  he  had  appointed 
Alcaldes,  and  Pero  Bermudez  and  Martin  Antolinez,  and  Muno 
Gustioz  went  with  the  Count  Don  Remond,  to  whose  charge  the 
King  had  given  them.     And  on  the  third  day  after  the  Cid  de- 
parted from  Toledo,  the    King   set  forth  for  Carrion ;   but  it  so 
chanced  that  he  fell  sick  upon  the  road,  and  could  not  arrive  within 
the  three  weeks,  so  that  the  term  was  enlarged  to  five.     And  when 
the  King's  health  was  restored  he  proceeded  and  reached  Carrion, 
and  gave  order  that  the  combat  should  be  performed,  and  appointed 
the  day,  and  named  the  plain  of  Carrion  for  the  place  thereof. 
And  the  Infantes  came  there  with  a  great  company  of  all  their 
friends  and  kindred,  for  their  kinsmen  were  many  and  powerful ; 
and  they  all  came  with  one  accord,  that  if  before  the  battle  they 
could  find  any  cause  they  would  kill  the  knights  of  the  Cid  :  never- 
theless, though  they  had  determined  upon  this  they  dared  not  put 
it  in  effect,  because  they  stood  in  fear  of  the  King. 

II.  And  when  the  night  came,  of  which  the  morrow  was  appointed 
for  the  combat,  they  on  one  side  and  on  the  other  kept  vigil  in  the 
Churches,  each  in  that  Church  to  which  he  had  the  most  devotion. 
Night  is  passed  away,  and  the  dawn  is  now  breaking ;  and  at  day- 
break a  great  multitude  was  assembled  in  the  field,  and  many  Ricos- 
omes  came  there  for  the  pleasure  which  they  would  have  in  seeing 
this  battle,  and  the  King  sent  and  commanded  the  champions  to 
make  ready.     Moreover  he  made  the  two  Counts  his  sons-in-law, 
Don  Anrrich  and  Don  Remond,  and  the  other  Counts  and  their 
people,  arm  themselves  and  keep  the  field,  that  the  kinsmen  of  the 
Infantes  might  not  make  a  tumult  there.     Who  can  tell  the  great 
dole  and  sorrow  of  Count  Gonzalo  Gonzalez  for  his  sons  the  Infan- 
tes of  Carrion,  because  they  had  to  do  battle  this  day  !  and  in  the 
fulness  of  his  heart  he  cursed  the  day  and  the  hour  in  which  he 
was  born,  for  his  heart  divined  the  sorrow  which  he  was  to  have 


422  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

for  his  children.  Great  was  the  multitude  which  was  assembled 
from  all  Spain  to  behold  this  battle.  And  there  in  the  field  near 
the  lists  the  champions  of  the  Cid  armed  themselves  on  one  side, 
and  the  Infantes  on  the  other.  And  Count  Don  Remond  armed 
the  knights  of  the  Cid,  and  instructed  them  how  to  do  their  devoir, 
and  Count  Garci  Ordonez  helped  arm  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and 
their  uncle  Suero  Gonzalez,  and  they  sent  to  ask  the  King  of  his 
favour  that  he  would  give  command  that  the  swords  Colada  and 
Tizona  should  not  be  used  in  that  combat.  But  the  King  would 
not,  and  he  answered  that  each  must  take  the  best  sword  and  the 
best  arms  that  he  could,  save  only  that  the  one  should  not  have 
more  than  the  other.  Greatly  were  they  troubled  at  this  reply, 
and  greatly  did  they  fear  those  good  swords,  and  repent  that  they 
had  taken  them  to  the  Cortes  of  Toledo.  And  from  that  hour  the 
Infantes  and  Suero  Gonzalez  bewrayed  in  their  countenances  that 
they  thought  ill  of  what  they  had  done,  and  happy  men  would  they 
have  thought  themselves  if  they  had  not  committed  that  great  vil- 
lany,  and  he  if  he  had  not  counselled  it ;  and  gladly  would  they 
have  given  all  that  they  had  in  Carrion  so  it  could  now  have  been 
undone. 

III.  And  the  King  went  to  the  place  where  the  Infantes  were 
arming,  and  said  unto  them,  If  ye  feared  these  swords  ye  should 
have  said  so  in  the  Cortes  of  Toledo,  for  that  was  the  place,  and  not 
this  ;  .  .  there  is  now  nothing  to  be  done  but  to  defend  yourselves 
stoutly,  as  ye  have  need  against  those  with  whom  ye  have  to  do. 
Then  went  he  to  the  knights  of  the  Cid,  whom  he  found  armed ; 
and  they  kissed  his  hand  and  said  unto  him,  Sir,  the  Cid  hath  left 
us  in  your  hand,  and  we  beseech  you  see  that  no  wrong  be  done 
us  in  this  place,  where  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  have  their  party ; 
and  by  God's  mercy  we  will  do  ourselves  right  upon  them.  And 
the  King  bade  them  have  no  fear  for  that.  Then  their  horses  were 
brought,  and  they  crossed  the  saddles,  and  mounted,  with  their 
shields  hanging  from  the  neck ;  and  they  took  their  spears,  each 
of  which  had  its  streamer,  and  with  many  good  men  round  about 
they  went  to  the  lists ;  and  on  the  other  side  the  Infantes  and 
Count  Suero  Gonzalez  came  up  with  a  great  company  of  their 
friends  and  kinsmen  and  vassals.  And  the  King  said  with  a  loud 
voice,  Hear  what  I  say,  Infantes  of  Carrion  !  .  .  this  combat  I  would 
have  had  waged  in  Toledo,  but  ye  said  that  ye  were  not  ready  to 
perform  it  there,  and  therefore  I  am  come  to  this  which  is  your 
native  place,  and  have  brought  the  knights  of  the  Cid  with  me. 
They  are  come  here  under  my  safeguard.  Let  not  therefore  you 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  423 

nor  your  kinsmen  deceive  yourselves,  thinking  to  overpower  them 
by  tumult,  or  in  any  other  way  than  by  fair  combat ;  for  whosoever 
shall  begin  a  tumult,  I  have  given  my  people  orders  to  cut  him  in 
pieces  upon  the  spot,  and  no  inquiry  shall  be  made  touching  the 
death  of  him  who  shall  so  have  offended.  Full  sorrowful  were  the 
Infantes  of  Carrion  for  this  command  which  the  King  had  given. 
And  the  King  appointed  twelve  knights  who  were  hidalgos  to  be 
true-men,  and  place  the  combatants  in  the  lists,  and  show  them 
the  bounds  at  what  point  they  were  to  win  or  to  be  vanquished, 
and  to  divide  the  sun  between  them.  And  he  went  with  a  wand 
in  his  hand,  and  saw  them  placed  on  both  sides ;  then  he  went 
out  of  the  lists,  and  gave  command  that  the  people  should  fall  back, 
and  not  approach  within  seven  spears-length  of  the  lines  of  the 
lists. 

IV.  Now  were  the  six  combatants  left  alone  in  the  lists,  and 
each  of  them  knew  now  with  whom  he  had  to  do  battle.     And  they 
laced  their  helmets,  and  put  shield  upon  the  arm,  and  laid  lance 
in  rest.     And  the  knights  of  my  Cid  advanced  against  the  Infantes 
of  Carrion,  and  they  on  their  part  against  the  champions  of  the 
Campeador.     Each  bent  down  with  his  face  to  the  saddle-bow, 
and  gave  his  horse  the  spur.     And  they  met  all  six  with  such  a 
shock,  that  they  who  looked  on  expected  to  see  them  all  fall  dead. 
Pero   Bermudez  and  Ferrando   Gonzalez  encountered,  and   the 
shield  of  Pero  Bermudez  was  pierced,  but  the  spear  passed  through 
on  one  side,  and  hurt  him  not,  and  brake  in  two  places ;  and  he 
sat  firm  in  his  seat.     One  blow  he  received,  but  he  gave  another  ; 
he  drove  his  lance  through  Ferrando's  shield,  at  his  breast,  so  that 
nothing  availed  him.     Ferrando's  breast-plate  was  threefold  ;  two 
plates  the  spear  went  clean  through,  and  drove  the  third  in  before, 
with  the  velmez  and  the  shirt,  into  the  breast,  near  his  heart ;  .  . 
and  the  girth  and  the  poitral  of  his  horse  burst,  and  he  and  the 
saddle  went  together  over  the  horse's  heels,  and  the  spear  in  him, 
and  all  thought  him  dead.     Howbeit  Ferrando  Gonzalez  rose,  and 
the  blood  began  to  run  out  of  his  mouth,  and  Pero  Bermudez  drew 
his  sword  and  went  against  him ;  but  when  he  saw  the  sword  Ti- 
zona  over  him,  before  he  received  a  blow  from  it,  he  cried  out 
that  he  confessed  himself  conquered,  and  that  what  Pero  Bermudez 
had  said  against  him  was  true.     And  when  Pero  Bermudez  heard 
this  he  stood  still,  and  the  twelve  true-men  came  up  and  heard  his 
confession,  and  pronounced  him  vanquished.     This  Ferrando  did 
thinking  to  save  his  life  ;  but  the  wound  which  he  had  got  was  mortal. 

V.  Martin  Antolinez  and  Diego  Gonzalez  brake  their  lances  o» 


424  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

each  other,  and  laid  hand  upon  their  swords.  Martin  Antolinez 
drew  forth  Colada,  the  brightness  of  which  flashed  over  the  whole 
field,  for  it  was  a  marvellous  sword ;  and  in  their  strife  he  dealt 
him  a  back-handed  blow  which  sheared  off  the  crown  of  his  helmet, 
and  cut  away  hood  and  coif,  and  the  hair  of  his  head  and  the  skin 
also :  this  stroke  he  dealt  him  with  the  precious  Colada.  And 
Diego  Gonzalez  was  sorely  dismayed  therewith,  and  though  he  had 
his  own  sword  in  his  hand  he  could  not  for  very  fear  make  use  of 
it,  but  he  turned  his  horse  and  fled  :  and  Martin  Antolinez  went 
after  him,  and  dealt  him  another  with  the  flat  part  of  the  sword, 
for  he  missed  him  with  the  edge,  and  the  Infante  began  to  cry  out 
aloud,  Great  God,  help  me  and  save  me  from  that  sword !  And 
he  rode  away  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  Martin  Antolinez  called  out 
after  him,  Get  out,  Don  Traitor  !  and  drove  him  out  of  the  lists, 
and  remained  conqueror. 

VI."  Muno  Gustioz  and  Suero  Gonzalez  dealt  each  other  such 
strokes  with  their  spears  as  it  was  marvellous  to  behold.  And 
Suero  Gonzalez  being  a  right  hardy  knight  and  a  strong,  and  of 
great  courage,  struck  the  shield  of  Muno  Gustioz  and  pierced  it 
through  and  through ;  but  the  stroke  was  given  aslant,  so  that  it 
passed  on  and  touched  him  not.  Muno  Gustioz  lost  his  stirrups 
with  that  stroke,  but  he  presently  recovered  them  and  dealt  him 
such  a  stroke  in  return  that  it  went  clean  through  the  midst  of  the 
shield,  and  through  all  his  armour,  and  came  out  between  his  ribs, 
missing  the  heart ;  then  laying  hand  on  him  he  wrenched  him  out 
of  the  saddle,  and  threw  him  down  as  he  drew  the  spear  out  of  his 
body ;  and  the  point  of  the  spear  and  the  haft  and  the  streamer  all 
came  out  red.  Then  all  the  beholders  thought  that  he  was  stricken 
to  death.  And  Muno  Gustioz  turned  to  smite  again.  But  when 
Gonzalo  Ansures  his  father  saw  this,  he  cried  out  aloud  for  great 
ruth  which  he  had  for  his  son,  and  said,  For  God's  sake  do  not 
strike  him  again,  for  he  is  vanquished.  And  Muno  Gustioz,  like  a 
man  of  good  understanding,  asked  the  true-men  whether  he  were 
to  be  held  as  conquered  for  what  his  father  said,  and  they  said  not, 
unless  he  confirmed  it  with  his  own  mouth.  And  Muno  Gustioz 
turned  again  to  Suero  Gonzalez  where  he  lay  wounded,  and  lifted 
his  spear  against  him,  and  Suero  Gonzalez  cried  out,  Strike  me 
not,  for  I  am  vanquished.  And  the  judges  said  it  was  enough,  and 
that  the  combat  was  at  an  end. 

VII.  Then  the  King  entered  the  lists,  and  many  good  knights 
and  hidalgos  with  him,  and  he  called  the  twelve  true-men,  and 
asked  them  if  the  knights  of  the  Cid  had  aught  more  to  do  to 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  435 

prove  their  accusation  :  and  they  made  answer  that  the  knights  of 
the  Cid  had  won  the  field  and  done  their  devoir ;  and  all  the  hidal- 
gos who  were  there  present  made  answer,  that  they  said  true.  And 
King  Don  Alfonso  lifted  up  his  voice  and  said,  Hear  me,  all  ye 
who  are  here  present :  inasmuch  as  the  knights  of  the  Cid  have 
conquered,  they  have  won  the  cause;  and  the  twelve  true-men 
made  answer,  that  what  the  King  said  was  the  truth,  and  all  the 
people  said  the  same.  And  the  King  gave  command  to  break  up 
the  lists,  and  gave  sentence  that  the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and  their 
uncle  Suero  Gonzalez  were  notorious  traitors,  and  ordered  his 
seneschal  to  take  their  arms  and  horses.  And  from  that  day  forth 
their  lineage  never  held  up  its  head,  nor  was  of  any  worth  in  Castile  ; 
and  they  and  their  uncle  fled  away,  having  been  thus  vanquished 
and  put  to  shame.  And  thus  it  was  that  Carrion  fell  to  the  King 
after  the  days  of  Gonzalo  Gonzalez,  the  father  of  the  Infantes. 
Great  was  their  shame,  and  the  like  or  worse  betide  him  who 
abuseth  fair  lady,  and  then  leaveth  her. 

VIII.  Then  the  King  went  to  meat,  and  he  took  the  knights  of 
the  Cid  with  him ;  and  great  was  the  multitude  which  followed 
after  them,  praising  the  good  feat  which  they  had  achieved.  And 
the  King  gave  them  great  gifts,  and  sent  them  away  by  night,  and 
with  a  good  guard  to  protect  them  till  they  should  be  in  safety  :  and 
they  took  their  leave  of  the  King,  and  travelled  by  night  and  day, 
and  came  to  Valencia.  When  the  Cid  knew  that  they  drew  nigh, 
he  went  out  to  meet  them,  and  did  them  great  honour.  Who  can 
tell  the  great  joy  which  he  made  over  them  ?  And  they  told  him 
all  even  as  it  had  come  to  pass,  and  how  the  King  had  declared 
the  Infantes  of  Carrion  and  their  uncle  to  be  notorious  traitors. 
Great  was  the  joy  of  the  Cid  at  these  tidings,  and  he  lifted  up  his 
hands  to  Heaven  and  blest  the  name  of  God  because  of  the  ven- 
geance which  he  had  given  him  for  the  great  dishonour  which  he 
had  received.  And  he  took  with  him  Martin  Antolinez  and  Pero 
Bermudez  and  Muno  Gustioz,  and  went  to  Dona  Ximena  and  her 
daughters,  and  said  to  them,  Blessed  be  the  name  of  God,  now 
are  you  and  your  daughters  avenged  !  and  he  made  the  knights 
recount  the  whole  unto  them,  even  as  it  had  come  to  pass.  Great 
was  the  joy  of  Dona  Ximena  and  her  daughters,  and  they  bent 
their  knees  to  the  ground,  and  praised  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
because  he  had  given  them  this  vengeance  for  the  dishonour  which 
they  had  received  ;  and  Dona  Elvira  and  Dona  Sol  embraced  those 
knights  many  times,  and  would  fain  have  kissed  their  hands  and 
their  feet,  And  the  Cid  said  unto  Dona  Ximena,  Now  may  you 


426  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

without  let  marry  your  daughters  with  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and 
Navarre,  and  I  trust  in  God  that  they  will  be  well  and  honourably 
married,  better  than  they  were  at  first.  Eight  days  did  the  great 
rejoicings  endure  which  the  Cid  made  in  Valencia,  for  the  ven- 
geance which  God  had  given  him  upon  the  Infantes  of  Carrion, 
and  their  uncle  Suero  Gonzalez,  the  aider  and  abettor  in  the  villany 
which  they  had  committed. 

IX.  Now  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  the  great  Soldan  of 
Persia,  having  heard  of  the  great  goodness  of  the  Cid,  and  of  his 
great  feats  in  arms,  and  how  he  had  never  been  vanquished  by 
mortal  man,  and  how  he  had  conquered  many  Kings,  Moor  and 
Christian,  and  had  won  the  noble  city  of  Valencia,  and  had  de- 
feated King  Bucar  Lord  of  Africa  and  Morocco,  and  twenty-nine 
Kings  with  him,  all  these  things  made  him  greatly  desirous  of  his 
love.  And  holding  him  to  be  one  of  the  noble  men  of  the  world, 
he  sent  messengers  to  him  with  great  gifts,  which  will  be  recounted 
hereafter,  and  with  them  he  sent  one  of  his  kinsmen,  a  full  hon- 
ourable man,  with  letters  of  great  love.  When  this  kinsman  reached 
the  port  of  Valencia,  he  sent  word  to  the  Cid  that  he  was  arrived 
there  with  a  message  from  the  Great  Soldan  of  Persia,  who  had 
sent  a  present  by  him ;  and  when  the  Cid  knew  this  he  was  well 
pleased.  And  in  the  morning  the  Cid  took  horse,  and  went  out 
with  all  his  company,  all  nobly  attired,  and  his  knights  rode  before 
him  with  their  lances  erect.  And  when  they  had  gone  about  a 
league  they  met  the  messenger  of  the  Soldan  coming  to  Valencia  : 
and  when  he  beheld  them  in  what  order  they  came,  he  understood 
what  a  noble  man  the  Cid  Campeador  was.  And  when  he  drew 
nigh,  the  Cid  stopped  his  horse  Bavieca,  and  waited  to  receive 
him.  And  when  the  messenger  came  before  the  Cid  and  beheld 
him,  all  his  flesh  began  to  tremble,  and  he  marvelled  greatly  that 
his  flesh  should  tremble  thus ;  and  his  voice  failed  him,  so  that  he 
could  not  bring  forth  a  word.  And  the  Cid  said  that  he  was  wel- 
come, and  went  towards  him  to  embrace  him  •  but  the  Moor  made 
him  no  reply,  being  amazed.  And  when  he  had  somewhat  recov- 
ered and  could  speak,  he  would  have  kissed  the  Cid's  hand,  but 
the  Cid  would  not  give  it  him  :  and  he  thought  this  was  done  for 
haughtiness,  but  they  made  him  understand  that  it  was  to  do  him 
honour ;  then  was  he  greatly  rejoiced,  and  he  said,  I  humble  my- 
self before  thee,  O  Cid,  who  art  the  fortunate,  the  best  Christian, 
and  the  most  honourable  that  hath  girded  on  sword  or  bestrode 
horse  these  thousand  years.  The  Great  Soldan  of  Persia,  my  Ix>rd, 
hearing  of  thy  great  fame  and  renown,  and  of  the  great  virtue 


RODRIGO   DIAZ  DE   BIVAR.  427 

which  is  in  thee,  hath  sent  me  to  salute  thee  and  receive  thee  as 
his  friend,  even  as  his  best  friend,  the  one  whom  he  loveth  and 
prizeth  best.  And  he  hath  sent  a  present  by  me  who  am  of  his 
lineage,  and  beseecheth  thee  to  receive  it  as  from  a  friend.  And 
the  Cid  made  answer  that  he  thanked  him  greatly. 

X.  Then  the  Cid  bade  his  people  make  way  that  the  sumpter 
beasts  which  carried  the  present  might  pass,  and  also  the  strange 
animals  which  the  Soldan  had  sent,  the  like  whereof  were  not  in 
that  land.  And  when  they  were  passed  he  and  his  company  re- 
turned towards  the  town,  and  the  messenger  with  him.  And 
whensoever  the  messenger  spake  to  the  Cid,  it  came  into  his  mind 
how  his  voice  had  failed  and  his  flesh  trembled  when  he  beheld 
him  ;  and  he  marvelled  thereat,  and  would  fain  have  asked  the  Cid 
why  it  should  be.  And  when  they  entered  Valencia,  great  was  the 
crowd  which  assembled  to  see  the  sumpter  beasts,  and  the  strange 
animals,  for  they  had  never  seen  such  before,  and  they  marvelled 
at  them.  And  the  Cid  gave  order  that  the  beasts  should  be  taken 
care  of,  and  he  went  to  the  Alcazar  and  took  the  Moor  with  him  ; 
and  when  they  came  to  Dona  Ximena  the  Moor  humbled  himself 
before  her  and  her  daughters,  and  would  have  kissed  her  hand, 
but  she  would  not  give  it  him.  Then  he  commanded  that  the 
camels  and  other  beasts  of  burthen  should  be  unloaded  in  their 
presence,  and  he  began  to  open  the  packages  and  display  the 
noble  things  which  were  contained  therein.  And  he  laid  before 
them  great  store  of  gold  and  of  money,  which  came  in  leathern 
bags,  each  having  its  lock;  and  wrought  silver  in  dishes  and 
trenchers  and  basins,  and  pots  for  preparing  food  ;  all  these  of  fine 
silver  and  full  cunningly  wrought,  the  weight  whereof  was  ten 
thousand  marks.  Then  he  brought  out  five  cups  of  gold,  in  each 
of  which  were  ten  marks  of  gold,  with  many  precious  stones  set 
therein,  and  three  silver  barrels,  which  were  full  of  pearls  and  of 
precious  stones.  Moreover  he  presented  unto  him  many  pieces 
of  cloth  of  gold,  and  of  silk,  of  those  which  are  made  in  Tartan . 
and  in  the  land  of  Calabria.  And  moreover,  a  pound  of  myrrh 
and  of  balsam,  in  little  caskets  of  gold ;  this  was  a  precious  thing, 
for  with  this  ointment  they  were  wont  to  anoint  the  bodies  of  the 
Kings  when  they  departed,  to  the  end  that  they  might  not  corrupt, 
neither  the  earth  consume  them  :  and  with  this  was  the  body  of 
the  Cid  embalmed  after  his  death.  Moreover  he  presented  unto 
him  a  chess  board,  which  was  one  of  the  noble  ones  in  the  world  : 
it  was  of  ivory  riveted  with  gold,  and  with  many  precious  stones 
round  about  it ;  and  the  men  were  of  gold  and  silver,  and  the 


428  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

squares  also  were  richly  wrought  with  stones  of  many  virtues. 
This  was  a  full  rich,  and  great  and  noble  present,  so  that  no  man 
could  tell  the  price  thereof. 

XI.  When  the  Moor  had  produced  all  these  things  before  the 
Cid,  he  said  unto  him,  All  this,  Sir,  with  the  animals  which  thou 
hast  seen,  my  Lord  the  Soldan  of  Persia  hath  sent  unto  thee,  be- 
cause of  the  great  fame  which  he  hath  heard  of  thy  goodness  and 
loyalty ;  and,  Sir,  he  beseecheth  thee  to  accept  it  for  the  love  of 
him.     And  the  Cid  thanked  him,  taking  great  pleasure  therein, 
and  said  that  he  would  fain  do  him  greater  honour  than  he  had 
ever  yet  done  to  any  one.     And  then  he  embraced  him  in  the 
name  of  the  Soldan,  and  said,  that  if  he  were  a  Christian  he  would 
give  him  the  kiss  of  peace ;  and  he  asked  whether  among  those 
things  there  was  aught  which  had  belonged  to  the  person  of  the 
Soldan,  that  if  so  he  might  kiss  it  in  his  honour,  and  in  token  that 
if  he  were  there  present,  he  would  kiss  him  on  the  shoulder,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  Moors,  for  he  knew  that  his  Lord  was 
one  of  the  noblest  men  in  all  Pagandom.     When  the  kinsman  of 
the  Soldan  heard  this  he  was  greatly  rejoiced  because  of  the  great 
courtesy  with  which  the  Cid  had  spoken,  and  he  perceived  how 
noble  a  man  he  was.     And  he  said  unto  him,  Sir  Cid,  if  you  were 
present  before  my  Lord  the  Soldan,  he  would  do  you  full  great 
honour,  and  would  give  you  the  head  of  his  horse  to  eat,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  our  country ;  but  seeing  that  this  is  not  the 
custom  of  this  country,  I  give  you  my  living  horse,  which  is  one  of 
the  best  horses  of  Syria ;  and  do  you  give  order  that  he  be  taken 
in  honour  of  my  Lord  the  Soldan,  and  he  will  be  better  than  his 
head  would  be  boiled.     And  I  kiss  your  hand,  Sir  Ruydiez,  and 
hold  myself  more  honoured  and  a  happier  man  than  ever  I  have 
been  heretofore.     And  the  Cid  accepted  the  horse,  and  gave  con- 
sent to  the  Moor  that  he  should  kiss  his  hand.     And  then  he  called 
for  his  Almoxarife,  and  bade  him  take  with  him  this  kinsman  of 
the  Soldan,  and  lodge  him  in  the  Garden  of  Villa  Nueva,  and  do 
him  even  such  honour  and  service  as  he  would  to  himself. 

XII.  Great  was  the  honour  which  the  Almoxarife  of  the  Cid 
Ruydiez  did  unto  the  kinsman  of  the  Soldan,  and  he  served  him 
even  as  he  would  have  served  his  Lord  the  Cid.     And  when  they 
had  disported  and  taken  solace  together,  the  kinsman  of  the  Sol- 
dan  asked  him  concerning  the  Cid,  what  manner  of  man  he  was. 
And  the  Almoxarife  answered  that  he  was  the  man  in  the  world 
who  had  the  bravest  heart,  and  the  best  knight  at  arms,  and  the 
man  who  best,  maintained  his  law ;  and  in  the  word  which  he  hath 


RODKIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  429 

promised  he  never  fails ;  and  he  is  the  man  in  the  world  who  is 
the  best  friend  to  his  friend,  and  to  his  enemy  he  is  the  mortallest 
foe  among  all  Christians ;  and  to  the  vanquished  he  is  full  of  mercy 
and  compassion ;  and  full  thoughtful  and  wise  in  whatsoever  thing 
he  doeth ;  and  his  countenance  is  such  that  no  man  seeth  him  for 
the  first  time  without  conceiving  great  fear.  And  this,  said  the 
Almoxarife,  I  have  many  times  witnessed,  for  when  any  messengers 
of  the  Moors  come  before  him,  they  are  so  abashed  that  they  know 
not  where  they  are.  When  the  messenger  of  the  Soldan  heard 
this  he  called  to  mind  how  it  had  been  with  him,  and  he  said  unto 
the  Almoxarife,  that  as  they  were  both  of  one  law  he  besought  him 
to  keep  secret  what  he  should  say,  and  he  would  tell  him  what  had 
befallen  him  himself.  And  the  Almoxarife  said  that  he  would  do 
as  he  desired.  And  with  that  he  began  to  say  that  he  marvelled 
greatly  at  what  he  had  heard,  for  even  as  he  had  now  told  him  that 
it  happened  unto  other  messengers,  even  so  had  he  himself  found 
it  the  first  time  that  he  had  seen  the  Cid  ;  for  so  great  was  the  fear 
which  he  conceived  at  the  sight  of  his  countenance,  that  for  long 
time  he  had  no  power  of  speech ;  and  according  to  his  thinking, 
this  could  only  proceed  from  the  grace  of  God  towards  the  Cid, 
that  none  of  his  enemies  might  ever  behold  his  face  without  fear. 
When  the  kinsman  of  the  Soldan  had  said  this,  the  Almoxarife  per- 
ceived that  he  was  a  wary  man,  and  one  of  good  understanding  ; 
and  he  began  to  talk  with  him,  and  asked  him  whether  he  would 
tell  him  what  he  should  ask,  and  the  messenger  replied  that  he 
would.  Then  the  Almoxarife  asked'  of  him  if  he  knew  what  was 
the  reason  which  had  moved  his  Lord  the  Soldan  to  send  so  great 
a  present  to  the  Cid  Campeador,  and  why  he  desired  to  have  his 
love  when  he  was  so  far  away,  beyond  sea.  Now  the  messenger 
of  the  Soldan  conceived  that  the  Almoxarife  sought  to  know  the 
state  of  the  lands  beyond  sea,  and  he  feared  that  this  had  been 
asked  of  him  by  command  of  the  Cid ;  and  he  made  answer,  that 
so  great  was  the  renown  of  the  Cid,  and  the  report  which  they  had 
heard  in  the  lands  beyond  sea  of  his  great  feats  in  arms,  that  it 
had  moved  the  Soldan  to  send  him  that  present  and  desire  his 
love.  But  when  the  Almoxarife  heard  this,  he  said  that  he  could 
not  believe  that  this  had  been  the  reason,  but  that  some  other  in- 
tention had  moved  him.  And  when  the  messenger  perceived  that 
the  Almoxarife  understood  him,  and  that  he  desired  to  know  the 
whole  of  the  matter,  he  said  that  he  would  tell  him,  but  he  besought 
him  to  keep  it  secret.  And  the  Almoxarife  promised  to  do  this. 
Then  he  told  him  that  the  land  beyond  sea  was  in  such  state  that 


430  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

they  weened  it  would  be  lost,  and  that  the  Christians  would  win  it, 
so  great  a  Crusade  had  gone  forth  against  it  from  Germany,  and 
from  France,  and  from  Lombardy,  and  Sicily,  and  Calabria,  and 
Ireland,  and  England,  which  had  won  the  city  of  Antioch,  and  now 
lay  before  Jerusalem.  And  my  Lord  the  Great  Soldan  of  Persia, 
hearing  of  the  great  nobleness  of  the  Cid,  and  thinking  that  he 
would  pass  over  also,  was  moved  to  send  him  this  present  to  gain 
his  love,  that  if  peradventure  he  should  pass  there  he  might  be  his 
friend.  And  when  the  Almoxarife  of  the  Cid  heard  this,  he  said 
that  of  a  truth  he  believed  it. 

XIII.  While  yet  that  messenger  of  the  Soldan  of  Persia  abode 
in  Valencia,  tidings  came  to  the  Cid  that  the  Infantes  of  Arragon 
and  Navarre  were   coming  to  celebrate  their  marriage  with  his 
daughters,  according  as  it  had  been  appointed  at  the  Cortes  of 
Toledo.     He  of  Navarre  hight  Don  Ramiro,  and  he  was  the  son 
of  King  Don  Sancho,  him  who  was  slain  at  Rueda ;  and  he  mar- 
ried with  Dona  Elvira,  the  elder :  and  the  Infante  of  Arragon  who 
married  Dona  Sol,  the  younger,  hight  Don  Sancho,  and  was  the  son 
of  King  Don  Pedro.     This  King  Don  Pedro  was  he  whom  the  Cid 
Ruydiez  conquered  and  made  prisoner,  as  the  history  hath  related  ; 
but  calling  to  mind  the  great  courtesy  which  the  Cid  had  shown  in 
releasing  him  from  prison,  and  how  he  had  ordered  all  his  own  to 
be  restored  unto  him,  and  moreover  the  great  worth  and  the  great 
goodness  of  the  Cid,  and  the  great  feats  which  he  had  performed, 
he  held  it  good  that  his  son  should  match  with  his  daughter,  to 
the  end  that  the  race  of  so  good  a  man  might  be  preserved  in 
Arragon.     Howbeit  it  was  not  his  fortune  to  have  a  son  by  Dona 
Sol,  for  he  died  before  he  came  to  the  throne,  and  left  no  issue. 
When  the  Cid  knew  that  the  Infantes  were  coming,  he  and  all  his 
people  went  out  six  leagues  to  meet  them,  all  gallantly  attired  both 
for  court  and  for  war ;  and  he  ordered  his  tents  to  be  pitched  in 
a  fair  meadow,  and  there  he  awaited  till  they  came  up.     And  the 
first  day  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  of  Arragon  came  up,  and  they 
waited  for  the  Infante  Don  Ramiro ;  and  when  they  were  all  met 
they  proceeded  to  Valencia.     And  the   Bishop  Don  Hieronymo 
came  out  to  meet  them  with  a  procession,  full  honourably.     Great 
were  the  rejoicings  which  were  made  in  Valencia  because  of  the 
coming  of  the  Infantes,  for  eight  days  before  the  marriage  began. 
And  the  Cid  gave  order  that  they  should  be  lodged  in  the  Garden 
of  Villa  Nueva,  and  supplied  with  all  things  in  abundance. 

XIV.  When  eight  days  were  overpast  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo 
married  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and  Navarre  to  the  daughters  of 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  431 

the  Cid  in  this  manner :  the  Infante  Don  Ramiro  of  Navarre  to 
Dona  Elvira,  and  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  of  Arragon  to  Dona  Sol. 
And  on  the  day  after  they  had  been  espoused  they  received  the 
blessing  in  the  great  church  of  St.  Peter,  as  is  commanded  by  the 
law  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  Bishop  said  mass.  Who  can  tell 
the  great  rejoicings  which  were  made  at  those  marriages,  and  the 
great  nobleness  thereof  ?  Certes  there  would  be  much  to  tell ;  for 
during  eight  days  that  they  lasted,  there  was  feasting  every  day, 
full  honourably  and  plentifully,  where  all  persons  did  eat  out  of 
silver ;  and  many  bulls  were  killed  every  day,  and  many  of  those 
wild  beasts  which  the  Soldan  sent ;  and  many  sports  were  devised, 
and  many  garments  and  saddles  and  noble  trappings  were  given  to 
the  j  oculars.  And  the  Moors  also  exhibited  their  sports  and 
rejoicings,  after  such  divers  manners,  that  men  knew  not  which  to 
go  to  first.  So  great  was  the  multitude  which  was  there  assembled, 
that  they  were  counted  at  eight  thousand  hidalgos.  And  when 
the  marriage  was  concluded,  the  Cid  took  his  sons-in-law  and  led 
them  by  the  hand  to  Dona  Ximena,  and  showed  them  all  the 
noble  things  which  the  Soldan  had  sent  him  ;  and  they  when  they 
beheld  such  great  treasures  and  such  noble  things  were  greatly 
astonished,  and  said  that  they  did  not  think  there  had  been  a  man 
in  Spain  so  rich  as  the  Cid,  nor  who  possessed  such  things.  And 
as  they  were  marvelling  from  whence  such  riches  could  have  come, 
both  of  gold  and  silver,  and  of  precious  stones  and  pearls,  the  Cid 
embraced  them  and  said,  My  sons,  this  and  all  that  I  have  is  for 
you  and  for  your  wives,  and  I  will  give  unto  you  the  noblest  and 
most  precious  things  that  ever  were  given  with  women  for  their 
dowry :  for  I  will  give  you  the  half  of  all  that  you  see  here,  and 
the  other  half  I  and  Dona  Ximena  will  keep  so  long  as  we  live, 
and  after  our  death  all  shall  be  yours ;  and  my  days  are  now  well 
nigh  full.  Then  the  Infantes  made  answer,  that  they  prayed  God 
to  grant  him  life  for  many  and  happy  years  yet,  and  that  they 
thanked  him  greatly,  and  held  him  as  their  father ;  and  that  they 
would  ever  have  respect  to  his  honour  and  be  at  his  service,  hold- 
ing themselves  honoured  by  the  tie  that  there  was  between  them. 
Three  months  these  Infantes  abode  with  the  Cid  in  Valencia,  in 
great  pleasure.  And  then  they  dispeeded  themselves  of  the  Cid 
and  of  their  mother-in-law  Dona  Ximena,  and  took  each  his  wife 
and  returned  into  their  own  lands  with  great  riches  and  honour. 
And  the  Cid  gave  them  great  treasures,  even  as  he  had  promised, 
and  gave  them  certain  of  those  strange  beasts  which  the  Soldan 
had  sent.  And  he  rode  out  with  them  twelve  leagues.  And  when 


432  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

they  took  leave  of  each  other  there  was  not  a  knight  of  all  those 
who  came  with  the  Infantes  to  whom  the  Cid  did  not  give  some- 
thing, horse,  or  mule,  or  garments,  or  money,  so  that  all  were  well 
pleased ;  and  he  gave  his  daughters  his  blessing,  and  commended 
them  to  God,  and  then  he  returned  to  Valencia,  and  they  went  to 
their  own  country. 

XV.  After  the  Cid  had  seen  his  sons-in-law  depart,  he  sent  for 
the  messenger  of  the  Soldan,  and  gave  him  many  of  the  rare  things 
of  his  country  to  carry  unto  his  Lord.     And  he  gave  him  a  sword 
which  had  the  device  of  the  Soldan  wrought  in  gold,  and  a  coat  of 
mail  and  sleeve  armour,  and  a  noble  gipion  which  was  wrought  of 
knots  ;  and  his  letters  of  reply,  which  were  full  of  great  assurances 
of  friendship.     Much  was  the  messenger  of  the  Soldan  pleased 
with  the  Cid  for  the  great  honour  which  he  had  shown  him,  and 
much  was  he  pleased  also  at  seeing  how  honourably  the  marriage 
of  his  daughters  had  been  celebrated.     So  he  departed  and  went 
to  the  port,  and  embarked  on  board  his  ship,  and  went  to  his  Lord 
the  Soldan. 

XVI.  After  this  the  Cid  abode  in  Valencia,  and  he  laboured  a 
full  year  in  settling  all  the  Castles  of  the  Moors  who  were  subject 
unto  him  in  peace,  and  in  settling  the  Moors  of  Valencia  well  with 
the  Christians ;  and  this  he  did  so  that  their  tribute  was  well  paid 
from  this  time  till  his  death.     And  all  the  land  from  Tortosa  to 
Origuela  was  under  his  command.     And  from  this  time  he  abode 
in  peace  in  Valencia ;  and  laboured  alway  to  serve  God  and  to  in- 
crease the  Catholic  faith,  and  to  make  amends  for  the  faults  he 
had  committed  towards  God,  for  he  weened  that  his  days  now 
would  be  but  few.     And  it  came  to  pass  one  day,  the  Cid  having 
risen  from  sleep  and  being  in  his  Alcazar,  there  came  before  him 
an  Alfaqui  whom  he  had  made  Alcalde  of  the  Moors ;  his  name 
was  Alfaraxi,  and  he  it  was  who  made  the  lamentation  for  Valencia, 
as  is  recorded  in  this  history.     This  Alfaqui  had  served  the  Cid 
well  in  his  office  of  Alcalde  over  the  Moors  of  Valencia :  for  he 
kept  them  in  peace,  and  made  them  pay  their  tribute  well,  being 
a  discreet  man  and  of  great  prudence,  so  that  for  this  and  for  his 
speech  he  might  have  been  taken  for  a  Christian  ;  and  for  this 
reason  the  Cid  loved  him  and  put  great  trust  in  him.     And  when 
the  Cid  saw  him  he  asked  him  what  he  would  have  ;  and  he  like 
a  prudent  man  bent  his  knees  before  him,  and  began  to  kiss  his 
hand,  and  said,  Sir  Cid  Ruydiez,  blessed  be  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  who  hath  brought  you  to  this  state  that  you  are  Lord  of 
Valencia,  one  of  the  best  and  noblest  cities  in  Spain.    What  I 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  433 

would  have  is  this.  Sir,  my  forefathers  were  of  this  city,  and  I  am 
a  native  hereof;  and  when  I  was  a  little  lad  the  Christians  took 
me  captive,  and  I  learnt  their  tongue  among  them,  and  then  my 
will  was  to  be  a  Christian,  and  to  abide  there  in  the  land  of  the 
Christians  ;  but  my  father  and  mother  being  rich  persons,  released 
me.  And  God  showed  me  such  favour,  and  gave  me  such  under- 
standing and  so  subtle,  that  I  learnt  all  the  learning  of  the  Moors, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  honourable  and  best  Alfaquis  that  ever 
was  in  Valencia  till  this  time,  and  of  the  richest,  as  you  know,  Sir ; 
and  you  in  your  bounty  made  me  Alcalde,  and  gave  me  your 
authority  over  the  Moors,  of  which  peradventure  I  was  not  worthy. 
And  now,  Sir,  thinking  in  my  heart  concerning  the  law  in  which  I 
have  lived,  I  find  that  I  have  led  a  life  of  great  error,  and  that  all 
which  Mahommed  the  great  deceiver  gave  to  the  Moors  for  their 
law,  is  deceit :  and  therefore,  Sir,  I  turn  me  to  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  will  be  a  Christian  and  believe  in  the  Catholic  faith. 
And  I  beseech  you  of  your  bounty  give  order  that  I  may  be  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  give  me  what  name  you 
will.  And  from  this  time  forward  I  will  live  the  life  of  a  Christian, 
and  fulfil  what  is  written  in  the  Gospel,  and  forsake  wife  and  chil- 
dren and  kin,  and  all  that  there  is  in  the  world,  and  serve  God, 
and  believe  in  his  faith  and  holy  law,  as  far  as  the  weakness  of  my 
body  can  bear.  When  the  Cid  Ruydiez  heard  this  he  began  to  smile 
for  very  pleasure  ;  and  he  rose  up  and  took  Alfaraxi  with  him  to 
Dona  Ximena,  and  said,  Here  is  our  Alcalde,  who  will  be  a  Chris- 
tian, and  our  brother  in  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ :  I  beseech  you 
therefore  give  order  to  provide  all  things  that  may  be  needful. 
When  Dona  Ximena  heard  this  she  rejoiced  greatly,  and  gave  order 
that  all  things  should  be  full  nobly  prepared.  And  on  the  morrow 
the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  baptized  him,  and  they  gave  him  the 
name  of  Gil  Diaz  :  and  his  godfathers  were  Don  Alvar  Fanez,  and 
Pero  Bermudez,  and  Martin  Antolinez  of  Burgos;  and  Dona 
Ximena,  with  other  honourable  dames,  were  his  godmothers.  And 
from  that  time  forward  Gil  Diaz  was  in  such  favour  with  the  < 
that  he  trusted  all  his  affairs  to  his  hands,  and  he  knew  so  well 
how  to  demean  himself,  both  towards  him  and  all  those  of  his 
company,  that  they  all  heartily  loved  him. 


434  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 


BOOK   XI. 

I.  IT  is  written  in  the  history  which  Abenalfarax,  the  nephew  of 
Gil  Diaz,  composed  in  Valencia,  that  for  five  years  the  Cid  Ruy- 
diez  remained  Lord  thereof  in  peace,  and  in  all  that  time  he 
sought  to  do  nothing  but  to  serve  God,  and  to  keep  the  Moors 
quiet  who  were  under  his  dominion  ;  so  that  Moors  and  Christians 
dwelt  together  in  such  accord,  that  it  seemed  as  if  they  had  alway 
been  united  ;  and  they  all  loved  and  served  the  Cid  with  such  good 
will  that  it  was  marvellous.  And  when  these  five  years  were  over 
tidings  were  spread  far  and  near,  which  reached  Valencia,  that 
King  Bucar  the  Miramamolin  of  Morocco,  holding  himself  dis- 
graced because  the  Cid  Campeador  had  conquered  him  in  the  field 
of  Quarto  near  unto  Valencia,  where  he  had  slain  or  made  prison- 
ers all  his  people,  and  driven  Him  into  the  sea,  and  made  spoil  of 
all  the  treasures  which  he  had  brought  with  him  ;  .  .  King  Bucar 
calling  these  things  to  mind,  had  gone  himself  and  stirred  up  the 
whole  Paganism  of  Barbary,  even  as  far  as  Monies  Claros,  to  cross 
the  sea  again,  and  avenge  himself  if  he  could ;  and  he  had  as- 
sembled so  great  a  power  that  no  man  could  devise  their  numbers. 
When  the  Cid  heard  these  tidings  he  was  troubled  at  heart ;  how- 
beit  he  dissembled  this,  so  that  no  person  knew  what  he  was 
minded  to  do ;  and  thus  the  matter  remained  for  some  days.  And 
when  he  saw  that  the  news  came  thicker  and  faster,  and  that  it  was 
altogether  certain  that  King  Bucar  was  coming  over  sea  against 
him,  he  sent  and  bade  all  the  Moors  of  Valencia  assemble  together 
in  his  presence,  and  when  they  were  all  assembled  he  said  unto 
them,  Good  men  of  the  Aljama,  ye  well  know  that  from  the  day 
wherein  I  became  Lord  of  Valencia,  ye  have  alway  been  protected 
and  defended,  and  have  passed  your  time  well  and  peaceably  in 
your  houses  and  heritages,  none  troubling  you  nor  doing  you  wrong  ; 
neither  have  I  who  am  you  Lord  ever  done  aught  unto  you  that 
was  against  right.  And  now  true  tidings  are  come  to  me  that  King 
Bucar  of  Morocco  is  arrived  from  beyond  sea,  with  a  mighty  power 
of  Moors,  and  that  he  is  coming  against  me  to  take  from  me  this 
city  which  I  won  with  so  great  labour.  Now  therefore,  seeing  it  i ; 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DR  BTVAR.  435 

so,  I  hold  it  good  and  command  that  ye  quit  the  town,  both  ye 
and  your  sons,  and  your  women,  and  go  into  the  suburb  of  Alcudia 
and  the  other  suburbs,  to  dwell  there  with  the  other  Moors,  till  we 
shall  see  the  end  of  this  business  between  me  and  King  Bucar. 
Then  the  Moors,  albeit  they  were  loth,  obeyed  his  command ;  and 
when  they  were  all  gone  out  of  the  city,  so  that  none  remained,  he 
held  himself  safer  than  he  had  done  before. 

U.  Now  after  the  Moors  were  all  gone  out  of  the  city,  it  came 
*o  pass  in  the  middle  of  the  night  that  the  Cid  was  lying  in  his  bed, 
devising  how  he  might  withstand  this  coming  of  King  Bucar,  for 
Abenalfarax  saith  that  when  he  was  alone  in  his  palace  his  thoughts 
were  of  nothing  else.  And  when  it  was  midnight  there  came  a 
great  light  into  the  palace,  and  a  great  odour,  marvellous  sweet. 
And  as  he  was  marvelling  what  it  might  be,  there  appeared  before 
him  a  man  as  white  as  snow ;  he  was  in  the  likeness  of  an  old  man, 
with  grey  hair  and  crisp,  and  he  carried  certain  keys  in  his  hand ; 
and  before  the  Cid  could  speak  to  him  he  said,  Sleepest  thou, 
Rodrigo,  or  what  art  thou  doing?  And  the  Cid  made  answer, 
What  man  art  thou  who  askest  me  ?  And  he  said,  I  am  St.  Peter 
the  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  who  come  unto  thee  with  more  urgent 
tidings  than  those  for  which  thou  art  taking  thought  concerning 
King  Bucar,  and  it  is,  that  thou  art  to  leave  this  world,  and  go  to 
that  which  hath  no  end  ;  and  this  will  be  in  thirty  days.  Hut  God 
will  show  favour  unto  thee,  so  that  thy  people  shall  discomfit  King 
Bucar,  and  thou,  being  dead,  shalt  win  this  battle  for  the  honour 
of  thy  body ;  this  will  be  with  the  help  of  Santiago,  whom  God 
will  send  to  the  business  :  but  do  thou  strive  to  make  atonement 
for  thy  sins,  and  so  thou  shalt  be  saved.  All  this  Jesus  Christ  vouch- 
safeth  thee  for  the  love  of  me,  and  for  the  reverence  which  thou 
hast  alway  shown  to  my  Church  in  the  Monastery  of  Cardena. 
When  the  Cid  Campeador  heard  this  he  had  great  pleasure  at 
heart,  and  he  let  himself  fall  out  of  bed  upon  the  earth,  that  he 
might  kiss  the  feet  of  the  Apostle  St.  Peter  :  but  the  Apostle  said, 
Strive  not  to  do  this,  for  thou  canst  not  touch  me ;  but  be  sure 
that  all  this  which  I  have  told  thee  will  come  to  pass.  And  when 
the  blessed  Apostle  had  said  this  he  disappeared,  and  the  palace 
remained  full  of  a  sweeter  and  more  delightful  odour  than  heart  of 
man  can  conceive.  And  the  Cid  Ruydiez  remained  greatly  com- 
forted by  what  St.  Peter  had  said  to  him,  and  as  certain  that  all 
this  would  come  to  pass,  at  if  it  were  already  over. 

Ill    Early  on  the  morrow  he  sent  to  call  all  his  honourable  mei 
to  the  Alcazar;    and  when  they  were  all  assembled  before  him, 


436  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

he  began  to  say  unto  them,  weeping  the  while,  Friends  and  kins- 
men and  true  vassals  and  honourable  men,  many  of  ye  must  well 
remember  when  King  Don  Alfonso  our  Lord  twice  banished  me 
from  his  land,  and  most  of  ye  for  the  love  which  ye  bore  me 
followed  me  into  banishment  and  have  guarded  me  ever  since. 
And  God  hath  shown  such  mercy  to  you  and  to  me,  that  we  have 
won  many  battles  against  Moors  and  Christians ;  those  which 
were  against  Christians,  God  knows,  were  more  through  their  fault 
than  my  will,  for  they  strove  to  set  themselves  against  the  good 
fortune  which  God  had  given  me,  and  to  oppose  his  service,  help- 
ing the  enemies  of  the  faith.  Moreover  we  won  this  city  in  which 
we  dwell,  which  is  not  under  the  dominion  of  any  man  in  the 
world  save  only  of  my  Lord  the  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  that  rather 
by  reason  of  our  natural  allegiance  than  of  anything  else.  And 
now  I  would  have  ye  know  the  state  in  which  this  body  of  mine 
now  is ;  for  be  ye  certain  that  I  am  in  the  latter  days  of  my  life, 
and  that  thirty  days  hence  will  be  my  last.  Of  this  I  am  well 
assured ;  for,  for  these  seven  nights  past  I  have  seen  visions.  I 
have  seen  my  father  Diego  Laynez,  and  Diego  Rodriguez  my  son ; 
and  every  time  they  say  to  me,  You  have  tarried  long  here,  let  us 
go  now  among  the  people  who  endure  for  ever.  Now  notwith- 
standing man  ought  not  to  put  his  trust  in  these  things,  nor  in  such 
visions,  I  know  this  by  other  means  to  be  certain,  for  Sir  St.  Peter 
hath  appeared  to  me  this  night,  when  I  was  awake  and  not  sleeping, 
and  he  told  me  that  when  these  thirty  days  were  over,  I  should 
pass  away  from  this  world.  Now  ye  know  for  certain  that  King 
Bucar  is  coming  against  us,  and  they  say  that  thirty  and  six  Moor- 
ish Kings  are  coming  with  him  ;  and  since  he  bringeth  so  great  a 
power  of  Moors,  and  I  have  to  depart  so  soon,  how  can  ye  defend 
Valencia  !  But  be  ye  certain,  that  by  the  mercy  of  God  I  shall 
counsel  ye  so,  that  ye  shall  conquer  King  Bucar  in  the  field,  and 
win  great  praise  and  honour  from  him,  and  Dona  Ximena,  and  ye 
and  all  that  ye  have,  go  hence  in  safety ;  how  ye  are  to  do  all  this 
I  will  tell  ye  hereafter,  before  I  depart. 

IV.  After  the  Cid  had  said  this  he  sickened  of  the  malady  of 
which  he  died.  And  the  day  before  his  weakness  waxed  great,  he 
ordered  the  gates  of  the  town  to  be  shut,  and  went  to  the  Church 
of  St.  Peter ;  and  there  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  being  present, 
and  all  the  clergy  who  were  in  Valencia,  and  the  knights  and  hon- 
ourable men  and  honourable  dames,  as  many  as  the  Church  could 
hold,  the  Cid  Ruydiez  stood  up,  and  made  a  full  noble  preaching, 
showing  that  no  man  whatsoever,  however  honourable  or  fortunate 


ROD  RIG  O  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  437 

they  may  be  in  this  world,  can  escape  death ;  to  which,  said  he,  I 
am  now  full  near  :  and  since  ye  know  that  this  body  of  mine  hath 
never  yet  been  conquered,  nor  put  to  shame,  I  beseech  ye  let  not 
this  befall  it  at  the  end,  for  the  good  fortune  of  man  is  only  accom- 
plished at  his  end.  How  this  is  to  be  done,  and  what  ye  all  have 
to  do,  I  will  leave  in  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and 
Alvar  Fanez,  and  Pero  Bermudez.  And  when  he  had  said  this  he 
placed  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  Bishop,  and  there  before  all  the 
people  made  a  general  confession  of  all  his  sins,  and  all  the  faults 
which  he  had  committed  against  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And  the 
Bishop  appointed  him  his  penance,  and  assoyled  him  of  his  sins. 
Then  he  arose  and  took  leave  of  the  people,  weeping  plenteously, 
and  returned  to  the  Alcazar,  and  betook  himself  to  his  bed,  and 
never  rose  from  it  again;  and  every  day  he  waxed  weaker  and 
weaker,  till  seven  days  only  remained  of  the  time  appointed. 
Then  he  called  for  the  caskets  of  gold  in  which  was  the  balsam 
and  the  myrrh  which  the  Soldan  of  Persia  had  sent  him  ;  and  when 
these  were  put  before  him  he  bade  them  bring  him  the  golden 
cup,  of  which  he  was  wont  to  drink ;  and  he  took  of  that  balsam 
and  of  that  myrrh  as  much  as  a  little  spoonful,  and  mingled  it  in 
the  cup  with  rose-water,  and  drank  of  it ;  and  for  the  seven  days 
which  he  lived  he  neither  ate  nor  drank  aught  else  than  a  little  of 
that  myrrh  and  balsam  mingled  with  water.  And  every  day  after 
he  did  this,  his  body  and  his  countenance  appeared  fairer  and 
fresher  than  before,  and  his  voice  clearer,  though  he  waxed  weaker 
and  weaker  daily,  so  that  he  could  not  move  in  his  bed. 

V.  On  the  twenty-ninth  day,  being  the  day  before  he  departed, 
he  called  for  Dona  Ximena,  and  for  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo, 
and  Don  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  Pero  Bermudez,  and  his  trusty 
Gil  Diaz ;  and  when  they  were  all  five  before  him,  he  began  to 
direct  them  what  they  should  do  after  his  death ;  and  he  said  to 
them,  Ye  know  that  King  Bucar  will  presently  be  here  to  besiege 
this  city,  with  seven  and  thirty  Kings  whom  he  bringeth  with  him, 
and  with  a  mighty  power  of  Moors.  Now  therefere  the  first  thing 
which  ye  do  after  I  have  departed,  wash  my  body  with  rose-water 
many  times  and  well,  as  blessed  be  the  name  of  God  it  is  washed 
within  and  made  pure  of  all  uncleanness  to  receive  His  Holy  Body 
to-morrow,  which  will  be  my  last  day.  And  when  it  has  been  well 
washed  and  made  clean,  ye  shall  dry  it  well,  and  anoint  it  witl 
this  myrrh  and  balsam,  from  these  golden  caskets,  from  head  ' 
foot,  so  that  every  part  shall  be  anointed,  till  none  be  left, 
you  my  Sister  Dona  Ximena,  and  your  women,  see  that  ye  utte 


438  CHROXICLE    OF   THE    CfD, 

cries,  neither  make  any  lamentation  for  me,  that  the  Moors  may 
not  know  of  my  death.  And  when  the  day  shall  come  in  which 
King  Bucar  arrives,  order  all  the  people  of  Valencia  to  go  upon 
the  walls,  and  sound  your  trumpets  and  tambours,  and  make  the 
greatest  rejoicings  that  ye  can.  And  when  ye  would  set  out  for 
Castile,  let  all  the  people  know  in  secret,  that  they  make  them- 
selves ready,  and  take  with  them  all  that  they  have,  so  that  none 
of  the  Moors  in  the  suburb  may  know  thereof ;  for  certes  ye  can- 
not keep  the  city,  neither  abide  therein  after  my  death.  And  see 
ye  that  sumpter  beasts  be  laden  with  all  that  there  is  in  Valencia, 
so  that  nothing  which  can  profit  may  be  left.  And  this  I  leave 
especially  to  your  charge,  Gil  Diaz.  Then  saddle  ye  my  horse 
Bavieca,  and  arm  him  well ;  and  ye  shall  apparel  my  body  full 
seemlily,  and  place  me  upon  the  horse,  and  fasten  and  tie  me 
thereon  so  that  it  cannot  fall :  and  fasten  my  sword  Tizona  in  my 
hand.  And  let  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  go  on  one  side  of  me, 
and  my  trusty  Gil  Diaz  on  the  other,  and  he  shall  lead  my  horse. 
You,  Pero  Bermudez,  shall  bear  my  banner,  as  you  were  wont  to 
bear  it ;  and  you,  Alvar  Fanez,  my  cousin,  gather  your  company  to- 
gether, and  put  the  host  in  order  as  you  are  wont  to  do.  And  go 
ye  forth  and  fight  with  King  Bucar ;  for  be  ye  certain  and  doubt 
not  that  ye  shall  win  this  battle  ;  God  hath  granted  me  this.  And 
when  ye  have  won  the  fight,  and  the  Moors  are  discomfited,  ye 
may  spoil  the  field  at  pleasure.  Ye  will  find  great  riches.  What 
ye  are  afterwards  to  do  I  will  tell  ye  to-morrow,  when  I  make  my 
testament. 

VI.  Early  on  the  morrow  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and 
Alvar  Fanez,  and  Pero  Bermudez,  and  Martin  Antolinez,  came  to 
the  Cid.  Gil  Diaz  and  Dona  Ximena  were  ahvay  with  him  ;  and 
the  Cid  began  to  make  his-  testament.  And  the  first  thing  which 
he  directed,  after  commending  his  soul  to  God,  was,  that  his  body 
should  be  buried  in  the  Church  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  where  it 
now  lies ;  and  he  bequeathed  unto  that  Monastery  many  good  in- 
heritances, so  that  that  place  is  at  this  day  the  richer  and  more 
honourable.  Then  he  left  to  all  his  company  and  household  ac- 
cording to  the  desert  of  every  one.  To  all  the  knights  who  had 
served  him  since  he  went  out  of  his  own  country,  he  gave  great 
wealth  in  abundance.  And  to  the  other  knights  who  had  not 
served  him  so  long,  to  some  a  thousand  marks  of  silver,  to  others 
two,  and  some  there  were  to  whom  he  bequeathed  three,  according 
who  they  were.  Moreover,  to  the  squires  who  were  hidalgos,  to 
some  five  hundred,  and  others  there  were  who  had  a  thousand 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BfVAR.  439 

and  five  hundred.  And  he  bade  them,  when  they  arrived  at  St. 
Pedro  de  Cardena,  give  clothing  to  four  thousand  poor,  to  each  a 
skirt  of  escanforte  and  a  mantle.  And  he  bequeathed  to  Dona 
Ximena  all  that  he  had  in  the  world  that  she  might  live  honoura- 
bly for  the  remainder  of  her  days  in  the  Monastery  de  St.  Pedro 
de  Cardena ;  and  he  commanded  Gil  Diaz  to  remain  with  her  and 
serve  her  well  all  the  days  of  her  life.  And  he  left  it  in  charge  to 
the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  Dona  Ximena  his  wife,  and  Don 
Alvar  Fanez,  and  Pero  Bermudez,  and  Felez  Munoz,  his  nephews, 
that  they  should  see.  all  this  fulfilled.  And  he  commanded  Alvar 
Fanez  and  Pero  Bermudez,  when  they  had  conquered  King  Bucar, 
to  proceed  forthwith  into  Castile  and  fulfil  all  that  he  had  enjoined. 

This  was  at  the  hour  of  sexts.  Then  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  the  Cam- 
peador  of  Bivar,  bade  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  give  him  the 
body  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  he  received  it  with 
great  devotion,  on  his  knees,  and  weeping  before  them  all.  Then 
he  sat  up  in  his  bed  and  called  upon  God  and  St.  Peter,  and  began 
to  pray,  saying,  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thine  is  the  power  and  the  king- 
dom, and  thou  art  above  all  Kings  and  all  nations,  and  all  Kings 
are  at  thy  command.  I  beseech  thee  therefore  pardon  me  my 
sins,  and  let  my  soul  enter  into  the  light  which  hath  no  end.  And 
when  the  Cid  Ruydiez  had  said  this,  this  noble  Baron  yielded  up 
his  soul,  which  was  pure  and  without  spot,  to  God,  on  that  Sunday 
which  is  called  Quinquagesima,  being  the  twenty  and  ninth  of  May, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  and  ninety  and  nine,  and  in 
the  seventy  and  third  year  of  his' life.  After  he  had  thus  made  his 
end  they  washed  his  body  twice  with  warm  water,  and  a  third  time 
with  rose-water,  and  then  they  anointed  and  embalmed  it  as  he 
had  commanded.  And  then  all  the  honourable  men,  and  all  the 
clergy  who  were  in  Valencia,  assembled  and  carried  it  to  the  Church 
of  St.  Mary  of  the  Virtues,  which  is  near  the  Alcazar,  and  there 
they  kept  their  vigil,  and  said  prayer  and  performed  masses  as  was 
meet  for  so  honourable  a  man. 

VII.   Three  days  after  the  Cid  had  departed  King  Bucai 
into  the  port  of  Valencia,  and  landed  with  all  his  power,  which  was 
so  great  that  there  is  not  a  man  in  the  world  who  could  give  i 
count  of  the  Moors  whom  he  brought.     And  there  came  with  h 
thirty  and  six  Kings,  and  one  Moorish  Queen,  who  was  a  neg 
and  she  brought  with  her  two  hundred  horsewomen,  all  negre 
like  herself,  all  having  their  hair  shorn  save  a  tuft  on  the  top,  ai 
this  was  in  token  that  they  came  as  if  upon  a  pilgrimage,  and 
obtain  the  remission  of  their  sins ;  and  they  were  all  armed  in 


440  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

coats  of  mail,  and  with  Turkish  bows.  King  Bucar  ordered  his 
tents  to  be  pitched  round  about  Valencia,  and  Abenalfarax  who 
wrote  this  history  in  Arabic,  saith,  that  there  were  full  fifteen  thou- 
sand tents ;  and  he  bade  that  Moorish  negress  with  her  archers  to 
take  their  station  near  the  city.  And  on  the  morrow  they  began 
to  attack  the  city,  and  they  fought  against  it  three  days  strenu- 
ously ;  and  the  Moors  received  great  loss,  for  they  came  blindly 
up  to  the  walls  and  were  slain  there.  And  the  Christians  defended 
themselves  right  well,  and  every  time  that  they  went  upon  the 
walls,  they  sounded  trumpets  and  tambours,  and  made  great  rejoic- 
ing, as  the  Cid  had  commanded.  This  continued  for  eight  clays 
or  nine,  till  the  companions  of  the  Cid  had  made  ready  everything 
for  their  departure,  as  he  had  commanded.  And  King  Bucar  and 
his  people  thought  that  the  Cid  dared  not  come  out  against  them, 
and  they  were  the  more  encouraged,  and  began  to  think  of  making 
bastilles  and  engines  wherewith  to  combat  the  city,  for  certes  they 
weened  that  the  Cid  Ruydiez  dared  not  come  out  against  them, 
seeing  that  he  tarried  so  long. 

VIII.  All  this  while  the  company  of  the  Cid  were  preparing  all 
things  to  go  into  Castile,  as  he  had  commanded  before  his  death  ; 
and  his  trusty  Gil  Diaz  did  nothing  else  but  labour  at  this.  And 
the  body  of  the  Cid  was  prepared  after  this  manner :  first  it  was 
embalmed  and  anointed  as  the  history  hath  already  recounted, 
and  the  virtue  of  the  balsam  and  myrrh  was  such  that  the  flesh 
remained  firm  and  fair,  having  its  natural  colour,  and  his  counte- 
nance as  it  was  wont  to  be,  and  the  eyes  open,  and  his  long  beard 
in  order,  so  that  there  was  not  a  man  who  would  have  thought 
him  dead  if  he  had  seen  him  and  not  known  it.  And  on  the  sec- 
ond day  after  he  had  departed,  Gil  Diaz  placed  the  body  upon  a 
right  noble  saddle,  and  this  saddle  with  the  body  upon  it  he  put 
upon  a  frame ;  and  he  dressed  the  body  in  a  gambax '  of  fine  sen- 
dal,  next  the  skin.  And  he  took  two  boards  and  fitted  them  to 
the  body,  one  to  the  breast  and  the  other  to  the  shoulders ;  these 
were  so  hollowed  out  and  fitted  that  they  met  at  the  sides  and 
under  the  arms,  and  the  hind  one  came  up  to  the  pole,  and  the 
other  up  to  the  beard ;  and  these  boards  were  fastened  into  the 
saddle,  so  that  the  body  could  not  move.  All  this  was  done  by 
the  morning  of  the  twelfth  day  ;  and  all  that  day  the  people  of  the 
Cid  were  busied  in  making  ready  their  arms,  and  in  loading  beasts 
with  all  that  they  had,  so  that  they  left  nothing  of  any  price  in  the 

1  A  kind  of  shirt. 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  441 

whole  city  of  Valencia,  save  only  the  empty  houses.  When  it  was 
midnight  they  took  the  body  of  the  Cid,  fastened  to  the  saddle  as 
it  was,  and  placed  it  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  and  fastened  the  sad- 
dle well :  and  the  body  sat  so  upright  and  well  that  it  seemed  as  if 
he  was  alive.  And  it  had  on  painted  hose  of  black  and  white,  so 
cunningly  painted  that  no  man  who  saw  them  would  have  thought 
but  that  they  were  grieves  and  cuishes,  unless  he  had  laid  his  hand 
upon  them  ;  and  they  put  on  it  a  surcoat  of  green  sendal,  having 
his  arms  blazoned  thereon,  and  a  helmet  of  parchment,  which  was 
cunningly  painted  that  every  one  might  have  believed  it  to  be  iron  ; 
and  his  shield  was  hung  round  his  neck,  and  they  placed  the  sword 
Tizona  in  his  hand,  and  they  raised  his  arm,  and  fastened  it  up  so 
subtilly  that  it  was  a  marvel  to  see  how  upright  he  held  the  sword. 
And  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  went  on  one  side  of  him,  and  the 
trusty  Gil  Diaz  on  the  other,  and  he  led  the  horse  Bavieca,  as  the 
Cid  had  commanded  him.  And  when  all  this  had  been  made 
ready,  they  went  out  from  Valencia  at  midnight,  through  the  gate 
of  Roseros,  which  is  towards  Castile.  Pero  Bermudez  went  first 
with  the  banner  of  the  Cid,  and  with  him  five  hundred  knights  who 
guarded  it,  all  well  appointed.  And  after  these  came  all  the  bag- 
gage. Then  came  the  body  of  the  Cid  with  an  hundred  knights, 
all  chosen  men,  and  behind  them  Dona  Ximena  with  all  her  com- 
pany, and  six  hundred  knights  in  the  rear.  All  these  went  out  so 
silently,  and  with  such  a  measured  pace,  that  it  seemed  as  if  there 
were  only  a  score.  And  by  the  time  that  they  had  all  gone  out  it 
was  broad  day. 

IX.  Now  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya  had  set  the  host  in  order,  and 
while  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  and  Gil  Diaz  led  away  the  body 
of  the  Cid,  and  Dona  Ximena,  and  the  baggage,  he  fell  upon  the 
Moors.  First  he  attacked  the  tents  of  that  Moorish  Queen  the 
Negress,  who  lay  nearest  to  the  city ;  and  this  onset  was  so  sud- 
den, that  they  killed  full  a  hundred  and  fifty  Moors  before  they  had 
time  to  take  arms  or  go  to  horse.  But  that  Moorish  Negress  was 
so  skilful  in  drawing  the  Turkish  bow,  that  it  was  held  for  a  mar- 
vel, and  it  is  said  that  they  called  her  in  Arabic  Nugueymat  Turya, 
which  is  to  say,  the  Star  of  the  Archers.  And  she  was  the  first 
that  got  on  horseback,  and  with  some  fifty  that  were  with  her,  did 
some  hurt  to  the  company  of  the  Cid  ;  but  in  fine  they  slew  her, 
and  her  people  fled  to  the  camp.  And  so  great  was  the  uproar 
and  confusion,  that  few  there  were  who  took  arms,  but  instead 
thereof  they  turned  their  backs  and  fled  toward  the  sea.  And 
when  King  Bucar  and  his  Kings  saw  this,  they  were  astonished. 


442  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

And  it  seemed  to  them  that  there  came  against  them  on  the  part 
of  the  Christians  full  seventy  thousand  knights,  all  as  white  as 
snow ;  and  before  them  a  knight  of  great  stature  upon  a  white 
horse  with  a  bloody  cross,  who  bore  in  one  hand  a  white  banner, 
and  in  the  other  a  sword  which  seemed  to  be  of  fire,  and  he  made 
a  great  mortality  among  the  Moors  who  were  flying.  And  King 
Bucar  and  the  other  Kings  were  so  greatly  dismayed  that  they 
never  checked  the  reins  till  they  had  ridden  into  the  sea  ;  and  the 
company  of  the  Cid  rode  after  them,  smiting  and  slaying  and  giv- 
ing them  no  respite  ;  and  they  smote  down  so  many  that  it  was 
marvellous,  for  the  Moors  did  not  turn  their  heads  to  defend  them- 
selves. And  when  they  came  to  the  sea,  so  great  was  the  press 
among  them  to  get  to  the  ships,  that  more  than  ten  thousand  died 
in  the  water.  And  of  the  six  and  thirty  Kings,  twenty  and  two 
were  slain.  And  King  Bucar  and  they  who  escaped  with  him 
hoisted  sails  and  went  their  way,  and  never  more  turned  their 
heads.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  and  his  people  when  they  had  discom- 
fited the  Moors,  spoiled  the  field,  and  the  spoil  thereof  was  so 
great  that  they  could  not  carry  it  away.  And  they  loaded  camels 
and  horses  with  the  noblest  things  which  they  found,  and  went 
after  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo  and  Gil  Diaz,  who  with  the  body 
of  the  Cid,  and  Dona  Ximena,  and  the  baggage,  had  gone  on  till 
they  were  clear  of  the  host,  and  then  waited  for  those  who  were 
gone  against  the  Moors.  And  so  great  was  the  spoil  of  that  day, 
that  there  was  no  end  to  it ;  and  they  took  up  gold,  and  silver,  and 
other  precious  things  as  they  rode  through  the  camp,  so  that  the 
poorest  man  among  the  Christians,  horsemen,  or  on  foot,  became 
rich  with  what  he  won  that  day.  And  when  they  were  all  met 
together,  they  took  the  road  toward  Castile  ;  and  they  halted  that 
night  in  a  village  which  is  called  Siete  Aguas,  this  is  to  say,  the 
Seven  Waters,  which  is  nine  leagues  from  Valencia. 

X.  Abenalfarax,  he  who  wrote  this  history  in  Arabic,  saith,  that 
the  day  when  the  company  of  the  Cid  went  out  from  Valencia, 
and  discomfited  King  Bucar  and  the  six  and  thirty  Kings  who  were 
with  him,  the  Moors  of  Alcudia  and  of  the  suburbs  thought  that  he 
went  out  alive,  because  they  saw  him  on  horseback,  sword  in  hand  ; 
but  when  they  saw  that  he  went  towards  Castile,  and  that  none  of 
his  company  returned  into  the  town,  they  were  astonished.  And 
all  that  day  they  remained  in  such  amaze,  that  they  neither  dared 
go  into  the  tents  which  King  Bucar's  host  had  left,  nor  enter  into 
the  town,  thinking  that  the  Cid  did  this  for  some  device  ;  and  all 
night  they  remained  in  the  same  doubt,  so  that  they  dared  not  go 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   BTVAR.  443 

out  from  the  suburbs.  When  it  was  morning  they  looked  towards 
the  town,  and  heard  no  noise  there ;  and  Abenalfarax  then  took 
horse,  and  taking  a  man  with  him,  went  toward  the  town,  and 
found  all  the  gates  thereof  shut,  till  he  came  to  that  through  which 
the  company  of  the  Cid  had  gone  forth  ;  and  he  went  into  the  city 
and  traversed  the  greater  part  thereof,  and  found  no  man  therein, 
and  he  was  greatly  amazed.  Then  he  went  out  and  called  aloud 
to  the  Moors  of  the  suburbs,  and  told  them  that  the  city  was 
deserted  by  the  Christians  ;  and  they  were  more  amazed  than  De- 
fore  :  nevertheless  they  did  not  yet  dare  either  to  go  out  to  the 
camp  or  to  enter  into  the  town,  and  in  this  doubt  they  remained 
till  it  was  midday.  And  when  they  saw  that  no  person  appeared 
on  any  side,  Abenalfarax  returned  again  into  the  town,  and  there 
went  with  him  a  great  company  of  the  best  Moors ;  and  they  went 
into  the  Alcazar,  and  looked  through  all  the  halls  and  chambers, 
and  they  found  neither  man  nor  living  thing ;  but  they  saw  written 
upon  a  wall  in  Arabic  characters  by  Gil  Diaz,  how  the  Cid  Ruy- 
diez  was  dead,  and  that  they  had  carried  him  away  in  that  manner 
to  conquer  King  Bucar,  and  also  to  the  end  that  none  might 
oppose  their  going.  And  when  the  Moors  saw  this  they  rejoiced 
and  were  exceeding  glad,  and  they  opened  the  gates  of  the  town, 
and  sent  to  tell  these  tidings  to  those  in  the  suburbs.  And  they 
came  with  their  wives  and  children  into  the  town,  each  to  the 
house  which  had  been  his  before  the  Cid  won  it.  And  from  that 
day  Valencia  remained  in  the  power  of  the  Moors  till  it  was  won 
by  King  Don  Jayme  of  Arragon;  he  who  is  called  the  Conqueror, 
which  was  an  hundred  and  seventy  years.  But  though  King  Don 
Jayme  won  it,  it  is  alway  called  Valencia  del  Cid.  On  the  morrow 
they  went  into  the  tents  of  King  Bucar  and  found  there  many 
arms  :  but  the  tents  were  deserted,  save  only  that  they  found  cer- 
tain women  who  had  hid  themselves,  and  who  told  them  of  the  de- 
feat of  King  Bucar.  And  the  dead  were  so  many  that  they  could 
scarcely  make  way  among  them.  And  they  went  on  through  this 
great  mortality  to  the  por',  and  there  they  saw  no  ships,  but  so  many 
Moors  lying  dead  that  tongue  of  man  cannot  tell  their  numbers ; 
and  they  began  to  gather  up  the  spoils  of  the  field,  which  were 
tents,  and  horses,  and  camels,  and  buffaloes,  and  flocks,  and  gol 
and  silver,  and  garments,  and  store  of  provisions,  out  o 
ber,  so  that  they  had  wherewith  to  suffice  the  city  of  Valencia  ft 
two  years,  and  to  sell  to  their  neighbours  also  :  and  they  were 
rich  from  that  time. 

XI.   When  the  company  of  the  Cid  departed  from  the 


444  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

Aguas,  they  held  their  way  by  short  journeys  to  Salvacanete.  And 
the  Cid  went  alway  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  as  they  had  brought 
him  out  from  Valencia,  save  only  that  he  wore  no  arms,  but  was 
clad  in  right  noble  garments  ;  and  all  who  saw  him  upon  the  way 
would  have  thought  that  he  was  alive,  if  they  had  not  heard  the 
truth.  And  whenever  they  halted  they  took  the  body  off,  fastened 
to  the  saddle  as  it  was,  and  set  it  upon  that  frame  which  Gil  Diaz 
had  made,  and  when  they  went  forward  again,  they  placed  it  in 
like  manner  upon  the  horse  Bavieca.  And  when  they  reached 
Salvacanete,  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  Dona  Ximena,  and 
Alvar  Fafiez,  and  the  other  honourable  men,  sent  their  letters  to  all 
the  kinsmen  and  friends  of  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  bidding  them  come 
and  do  honour  to  his  funeral ;  and  they  sent  letters  also  to  his  sons- 
in-law,  the  Infantes  of  Arragon  and  Navarre,  and  to  King  Don 
Alfonso.  And  they  moved  on  from  Salvacanete  and  came  to  Osma, 
and  then  Alvar  Fafiez  asked  of  Dona  Ximena  if  they  should  not 
put  the  body  of  the  Cid  into  a  coffin  covered  with  purple  and  with 
nails  of  gold ;  but  she  would  not,  for  she  said  that  while  his  coun- 
tenance remained  so  fresh  and  comely,  and  his  eyes  so  fair,  his 
body  should  never  be  placed  in  a  coffin,  and  that  her  children 
should  see  the  face  of  their  father  ;  and  they  thought  that  she 
said  well,  so  the  body  was  left  as  it  was.  And  at  the  end  of  fifteen 
days  the  Infante  of  Arragon  arrived,  with  Dona  Sol  his  wife,  and 
they  brought  with  them  an  hundred  armed  knights,  all  having  their 
shields  reversed  hanging  from  the  saddle  bow,  and  all  in  grey 
cloaks,  with  the  hoods  rent.  And  Dona  Sol  came  clad  in  linsey- 
woolsey,  she  and  all  her  women,  for  they  thought  that  mourning 
was  to  be  made  for  the  Cid.  But  when  they  came  within  half  a 
league  of  Osma,  they  saw  the  banner  of  the  Cid  coming  on,  and 
all  his  company  full  featly  apparelled.  And  when  they  drew  nigh 
they  perceived  that  they  were  weeping,  but  they  made  no  wailing ; 
and  when  they  saw  him  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  according  as  ye 
have  heard,  they  were  greatly  amazed.  But  so  great  was  the 
sorrow  of  the  Infante  that  he  and  all  his  company  began  to  lament 
aloud.  And  Dona  Sol,  when  she  beheld  her  father,  took  off  her 
tire,  and  threw  it  upon  the  ground  and  began  to  tear  her  hair, 
which  was  like  threads  of  gold.  But  Dona  Ximena  held  her  hand 
and  said,  Daughter,  you  do  ill,  in  that  you  break  the  command 
of  your  father,  who  laid  his  curse  upon  all  who  should  make  lamen- 
tation for  him.  Then  Dona  Sol  kissed  the  hand  of  the  Cid  and  of 
her  mother,  and  put  on  her  tire  again,  saying,  Lady  mother,  I  have 
committed  no  fault  in  this,  forasmuch  as  I  knew  not  the  command 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE   RIl'AK.  445 

of  my  father.  And  then  they  turned  back  to  Osma,  and  great 
was  the  multitude  whom  they  found  there  assembled  from  all  parts 
to  see  the  Cid,  having  heard  in  what  manner  he  was  brought,  for 
they  held  it  to  be  a  strange  thing ;  and  in  truth  it  was,  for  in  no 
history  do  we  find  that  with  the  body  of  a  dead  man  hath  there 
been  done  a  thing  so  noble  and  strange  as  this.  Then  they 
moved  on  from  Osma,  and  came  to  Santesteban  de  Gormaz.  And 
there  after  few  days  the  King  of  Navarre  came  with  the  Queen 
Doiia  Elvira  his  wife  ;  and  they  brought  with  them  two  hundred 
knights  ;  howbeit  their  shields  were  not  reversed,  for  they  had 
heard  that  no  mourning  was  to  be  made  for  the  Cid.  And  when 
they  were  within  half  a  league  of  Santesteban,  the  company  of  the 
Cid  went  out  to  meet  them,  as  they  had  the  Infante  of  Arragon  ; 
and  they  made  no  other  lamentation,  save  that  they  wept  with  Dona 
Elvira;  and  when  she  came  up  to  the  body  of  her  father  she 
kissed  his  hand,  and  the  hand  of  Dona  Ximena  her  mother.  And 
greatly  did  they  marvel  when  they  saw  the  body  of  the  Cid  Ruydiez 
how  fair  it  was,  for  he  seemed  rather  alive  than  dead.  And  they 
moved  on  from  Santesteban,  towards  San  Pedro  de  Cardena. 
Great  was  the  concourse  of  people  to  see  the  Cid  Ruydiez  coming 
in  that  guise.  They  came  from  Rioja,  and  from  all  Castile,  and 
from  all  the  country  round  about,  and  when  they  saw  him  their 
wonder  was  the  greater,  and  hardly  could  they  be  pursuaded  that 
he  was  dead. 

XII.  At  this  time  King  Don  Alfonso  abode  in  Toledo,  and 
when  the  letters  came  unto  him '  saying  how  the  Cid  Campeador 
was  departed,  and  after  what  manner  he  had  discomfited  King 
Bucar,  and  how  they  had  brought  him  in  this  goodly  manner  upon 
his  horse  Bavieca,  he  set  out  from  Toledo,  taking  long  journeys 
till  he  came  to  San  Pedro  de  Cardena,  to  do  honour  to  the  Cid  at 
his  funeral.  The  day  when  he  drew  nigh  the  Infante  of  Arragon 
and  the  King  of  Navarre  went  out  to  meet  him,  and  they  took 
the  body  of  the  Cid  with  them  on  horseback,  as  far  as  the  Monas- 
tery of  San  Christoval  de  Ybeas,  which  is  a  league  from  Cardena ; 
and  they  went,  the  King  of  Navarre  on  one  side  of  the  body,  and 
the  Infante  of  Arragon  on  the  other.  And  when  King  Don  Alfonso 
saw  so  great  a  company  and  in  such  goodly  array,  and  the  Cid 
Ruydiez  so  nobly  clad  and  upon  his  horse  Bavieca,  he  was  greatly 
astonished.  Then  Alvar  Fanez  and  the  other  good  men  kissed 
his  hand  in  the  name  of  the  Cid.  And  the  King  beheld  his  coun- 
tenance, and  seeing  it  so  fresh  and  comely,  and  his  eyes  so  bright 
and  fair,  and  so  even  and  open  that  he  seemed  alive,  he  marvelled 


446  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

greatly.  But  when  they  told  him  that  for  seven  days  he  had  drank 
of  the  myrrh  and  balsam,  and  had  neither  ate  nor  drank  of  aught 
else,  and  how  he  had  afterwards  been  anointed  and  embalmed,  he 
did  not  then  hold  it  for  so  great  a  wonder,  for  he  had  heard  that 
in  the  land  of  Kgypt  they  were  wont  to  do  thus  with  their  Kings. 
When  they  had  all  returned  to  the  Monastery  they  took  the  Cid 
from  off  his  horse,  and  set  the  body  upon  the  frame,  as  they  were 
wont  to  do,  and  placed  it  before  the  altar.  Many  were  the  honours 
which  King  Don  Alfonso  did  to  the  Cid  in  masses  and  vigils,  and 
other  holy  services,  such  as  are  fitting  for  the  body  and  soul  of  one 
who  is  departed.  Moreover  he  did  great  honour  to  the  King  of 
Navarre,  and  to  the  Infante  of  Arragon,  ordering  that  all  things 
which  were  needful  should  be  given  to  them  and  their  companies. 

XIII.  On  the  third  day  after  the  coming  of  King  Don  Alfonso, 
they  would  have  interred  the  body  of  the  Cid,  but  when  the  King 
heard  what  Dona  Ximena  had  said,  that  while  it  was  so  fair  and 
comely  it  should  not  be  laid  in  a  coffin,  he  held  that  what  she  said 
was  good.    And  he  sent  for  the  ivory  chair  which  had  been  carried 
to  the  Cortes  of  Toledo,  and  gave  order  that  it  should  be  placed 
on  the  right  of  the  altar  of  St.  Peter ;  and  he  laid  a  cloth  of  gold 
upon  it,  and  upon  that  placed  a  cushion  covered  with  a  right  noble 
tartan,  and  he  ordered  a  graven  tabernacle  to  be  made  over  the 
chair,  richly  wrought  with  azure  and   gold,  having   thereon   the 
blazonry  of  the  Kings  of  Castile  and  Leon,  and  the  King  of  Navarre, 
and  the  Infante  of  Arragon,  and  of  the  Cid  Ruydiez  the  Campea- 
dor.     And  he  himself,  and  the  King  of  Navarre  and  the  Infante  of 
Arragon,  and  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  to  do  honour  to  the 
Cid,  helped  to  take  his  body  from  between  the  two  boards,  in 
which  it  had  been  fastened  at  Valencia.     And  when  they  had  taken 
it  out,  the  body  was  so  firm  that  it  bent  not  on  either  side,  and 
the  flesh  so  firm  and  comely,  that  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  yet  alive. 
And  the  King  thought  that  what  they  purported  to  do  and  had 
thus  begun,  might  full  well  be  effected.     And  they  clad  the  body 
in  a  full  noble  tartari,  and  in  cloth  of  purple,  which  the  Soldan  of 
Persia  had  sent  him,  and  put  him  on  hose  of  the  same,  and  set 
him  in  his  ivory  chair ;  and  in  his  left  hand  they  placed  his  sword 
Tizona  in  its  scabbard,  and  the  strings  of  his  mantle  in  his  right. 
And  in  this  fashion  the  body  of  the  Cid  remained  there  ten  years 
and  more,  till  it  was  taken  thence,  as  the  history  will  relate  anon. 
And  when  his  garments  waxed  old,  other  good  ones  were  put  on. 

XIV.  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  the  sons-in-law  of  the  Cid,  King 
Don  Ramiro  of  Navarre,  and  the  Infante  Don  Sancho  of  Arragon, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  447 

with  all  their  companies,  and  all  the  other  honourable  men,  abode 
three  weeks  in  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  doing  honour  to  the  Cid. 
And  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  the  other  Bishops  who  came 
with  King  Don  Alfonso,  said  every  day  their  masses,  and  accom- 
panied the  body  of  the  Cid  there  where  it  was  placed,  and  sprin- 
kled holy  water  upon  it,  and  incensed  it,  as  is  the  custom  to  do 
over  a  grave.  And  after  three  weeks  they  who  were  there  assem- 
bled began  to  break  up,  and  depart  to  their  own  houses.  And  of 
the  company  of  the  Cid,  some  went  with  the  King  of  Navarre,  and 
other  some  with  the  Infante  of  Arragon  ;  but  the  greater  number, 
and  the  most  honourable  among  them,  betook  themselves  to  King 
Don  Alfonso,  whose' natural  subjects  they  were.  And  Dona  Ximena 
and  her  companions  abode  in  San  Pedro  de  Cardena,  and  Gil 
Diaz  with  her,  as  the  Cid  had  commanded  in  his  testament.  And 
the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo,  and  Alvar  Fanez  Minaya,  and  Pero 
Bermudez,  remained  there  also  till  they  had  fulfilled  all  that  the 
Cid  Ruydiez  had  commanded  in  his  testament  to  be  done. 

XV.    Gil  Diaz  did  his  best  endeavour  to  fulfil  all  that  his  Lord 
the  Cid  Ruydiez  had  commanded  him,  and  to  serve  Dona  Ximena 
and  her  companions  truly  and  faithfully ;  and  this  he  did  so  well, 
that  she  was  well  pleased  with  his  faithfulness.    And  Dona  Ximena 
fulfilled  all  that  the  Cid  had  commanded  her ;  and  every  day  she 
had  masses  performed  for  his  soul,  and  appointed  many  vigils,  and 
gave  great  alms  for  the  soul  of  the  Cid  and  of  his  family.     And 
this  was  the  life  which  she  led,  doing  good  wherever  it  was  needful 
for  the  love  of  God ;  and  she  was  alway  by  the  body  of  the  Cid, 
save  only  at  meal  times  and  at  night,  for  then  they  would  not  per- 
mit her  to  tarry  there,  save  only  when  vigils  were  kept  in  honour 
of  him.    Moreover  Gil  Diaz  took  great  delight  in  tending  the  horse 
Bavieca,  so  that  there  were  few  days  in  which  he  did  not  lead  him 
to  water,  and  bring  him  back  with  his  own  hand.     And  from  the 
day  in  which  the  dead  body  of  the  Cid  was  taken  off  his  back, 
never  man  was  suffered  to  bestride  that  horse,  but  he  was  alway 
led  when  they  took  him  to  water,  and  when  they  brought  him  back. 
\nd  Gil  Diaz  thought  it  fitting  that  the  race  of  that  good 
should  be  continued,  and  he  bought  two  mares  for  him  the  good 
liest  that  could  be  found,  and  when  they  were  with  foal,  he 
that  they  were  well  taken  care  of,  and  they  brought  forth  the  one 
a  male  colt  and  the  other  a  female  ;  and  from  these  the  race 
this  good  horse  was  kept  up  in  Castile,  so  that  there  were  aft 
wards  many  good  and  precious  horses  of  his  race,  and  peiadven- 
ture  are  at  this  day.     And  this  good  horse  lived  two  years  and  a 


448  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

half  after  the  death  of  his  master  the  Cid,  and  then  he  died  also, 
having  lived,  according  to  the  history,  full  forty  years.  And  Gil 
Diaz  buried  him  before  the  gate  of  the  Monastery,  in  the  public 
place,  on  the  right  hand  ;  and  he  planted  two  elms  upon  the  grave, 
the  one  at  his  head  and  the  other  at  his  feet,  and  these  elms  grew 
and  became  great  trees,  and  are  yet  to  be  seen  before  the  gate  of 
the  Monastery.  And  Gil  Diaz  gave  order  that  when  he  died  they 
should  bury  him  by  that  good  horse  Bavieca,  whom  he  had  loved 
so  well. 

XVI.  Four  years  after  the  Cid  had  departed  that  noble  lady 
Dona  Ximena  departed  also,  she  who  had  been  the  wife  of  that 
noble  baron  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  the  Campeador.  At  that  time  Don 
Garcia  Tellez  was  Abbot  of  the  Monastery,  a  right  noble  monk, 
and  a  great  hidalgo.  And  the  Abbot  and  Gil  Diaz  sent  for  the 
daughters  of  the  Cid  and  Dona  Ximena  to  come  and  honour  their 
mother  at  her  funeral,  and  to  inherit  what  she  had  left.  Dona 
Sol,  who  was  the  younger,  came  first,  because  Arragon  is  nearer 
than  Navarre,  and  also  because  she  was  a  widow ;  for  the  Infante 
Don  Sancho,  her  husband,  had  departed  three  years  after  the 
death  of  the  Cid,  and  had  left  no  child.  King  Don  Ramiro  soon 
arrived  with  the  other  dame,  Queen  Dona  Elvira  his  wife,  and  he 
brought  with  him  a  great  company  in  honour  of  his  wife's  mother, 
and  also  the  Bishop  of  Pamplona,  to  do  honour  to  her  funeral ; 
and  the  Infante  Don  Garcia  Ramirez,  their  son,  came  with  them, 
being  a  child  of  four  years  old.  Moreover  there  came  friends  and 
kinsmen  from  all  parts.  And  when  they  were  all  assembled  they 
buried  the  body  of  Dona  Ximena  at  the  feet  of  the  ivory  chair  on 
which  the  Cid  was  seated  ;  and  the  Bishop  of  Pamplona  said  mass, 
and  the  Abbot  Don  Garcia  Tellez  officiated.  And  they  tarried 
there  seven  days,  singing  many  masses,  and  doing  much  good  for 
her  soul's  sake.  And  in  that  time  the  Bishop  Don  Hieronymo 
arrived,  who  abode  with  King  Don  Alfonso,  and  he  came  to  do 
honour  to  the  body  of  Dona  Ximena ;  for  so  soon  as  he  heard 
that  she  was  departed,  he  set  off  taking  long  journeys  every  day. 
And  when  the  seven  days  were  over,  King  Don  Ramiro  and  Queen 
Dona  Elvira  his  wife,  and  her  sister  Dona  Sol,  set  apart  rents  for 
the  soul  of  Dona  Ximena,  and  they  appointed  that  Gil  Diaz  should 
have  them  for  his  life,  and  that  then  they  should  go  to  the  Mon- 
astery for  ever  :  and  they  ordained  certain  anniversaries  for  the 
souls  of  the  Cid  and  of  Dona  Ximena.  After  this  was  done  they 
divided  between  them  what  Dona  Ximena  had  left,  which  was 
a  great  treasure  in  gold  and  in  silver,  and  in  costly  garments ;  .  . 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  449 

the  one  half  Queen  Dona  Elvira  took,  and  Dona  Sol  the  other. 
And  when  they  had  thus  divided  it,  Dona  Sol  said  that  all  which 
she  had  in  the  world  should  be  for  her  nephew  the  Infante  Don 
Garcia  Ramirez,  and  with  the  good  will  of  Queen  Elvira  his 
mother,  she  adopted  him  then  to  be  her  son,  and  she  took  him 
with  her  to  Arragon,  to  the  lands  which  had  been  given  her  in 
dower,  and  bred  him  up  till  he  became  a  young  man ;  and  after 
the  death  of  his  father  he  was  made  King  of  Navarre,  as  may  be 
seen  in  the  book  of  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Spain.  And 
when  all  these  things  were  done  they  departed  each  to  his  own 
home,  and  Gil  Diaz  remained,  serving  and  doing  honour  to  the 
bodies  of  his  master  the  Cid  and  Dona  Ximena  his  mistress. 

XVII.  Now  Don  Garcia  Tellez  the  Abbot,  and  the  trusty  Gil 
Diaz,  were  wont  every  year  to  make  a  great  festival  on  the  day  of 
the  Cid's  departure,  and  on  that  anniversary  they  gave  food  and 
clothing  to  the  poor,  who  came  from  all  parts  round  about.  And 
it  came  to  pass  when  they  made  the  seventh  anniversary,  that  a 
great  multitude  assembled  as  they  were  wont  to  do,  and  many 
Moors  and  Jews  came  to  see  the  strange  manner  of  the  Cid's  body. 
And  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Abbot  Don  Garcia  Tellez,  when  they 
made  that  anniversary,  to  make  a  right  noble  sermon  to  the  peo- 
ple :  and  because  the  multitude  which  had  assembled  was  so  great 
that  the  Church  could  not  hold  them,  they  went  out  into  the  open 
place  before  the  Monastery,  and  he  preached  unto  them  there. 
And  while  he  was  preaching  there  ,  remained  a  Jew  in  the  Church, 
who  stopped  before  the  body  of  the  Cid,  looking  at  him  to  see  how 
nobly  he  was  there  seated,  having  his  countenance  so  fair  and  comely, 
and  his  long  beard  in  such  goodly  order,  and  his  sword  Tizona  in 
its  scabbard  in  his  left  hand,  and  the  strings  of  his  mantle  in  his 
right,  even  in  such  manner  as  King  Don  Alfonso  had  left  him, 
save  only  that  the  garments  had  been  changed,  it  being  now  seven 
years  since  the  body  had  remained  there  in  that  ivory  chair.  Now 
there  was  not  a  man  in  the  Church  save  this  Jew,  for  all  the  others 
were  hearing  the  preachment  which  the  Abbot  made.  And  when 
this  Jew  perceived  that  he  was  alone,  he  began  to  think  within 
himself  and  say,  This  is  the  body  of  that  Ruydiez  the  Cid,  whom 
they  say  no  man  in  the  world  ever  took  by  the  beard  while  he 
lived.  ...  I  will  take  him  by  the  beard  now,  and  see  what  he  can 
do  to  me.  And  with  that  he  put  forth  his  hand  to  pull  the  beard 
of  the  Cid ;  .  .  but  before  his  hand  could  reach  it,  God,  who  would 
not  suffer  this  thing  to  be  done,  sent  his  spirit  into  the  body,  and 
the  Cid  let  the  strings  of  his  mantle  go  from  his  right  hand,  and 


450  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

laid  hand  on  his  sword  Tizona,  and  drew  it  a  full  palm's  length 
out  of  the  scabbard.  And  when  the  Jew  saw  this,  he  fell  upon  his 
back  for  great  fear,  and  began  to  cry  out  so  loudly,  that  all  they 
who  were  without  the  Church  heard  him,  and  the  Abbot  broke  off 
his  preachment  and  went  into  the  Church  to  see  what  it  might  be. 
And  when  they  came  they  found  this  Jew  lying  upon  his  back 
before  the  ivory  chair,  like  one  dead,  for  he  had  ceased  to  cry 
out,  and  had  swooned  away.  And  then  the  Abbot  Don  Garcia 
Tellez  looked  at  the  body  of  the  Cid,  and  saw  that  his  right  hand 
was  upon  the  hilt  of  the  sword,  and  that  he  had  drawn  it  out  a  full 
palm's  length ;  and  he  was  greatly  amazed.  And  he  called  for 
holy  water,  and  threw  it  in  the  face  of  the  Jew,  and  with  that  the 
Jew  came  to  himself.  Then  the  Abbot  asked  him  what  all  this 
had  been,  and  he  told  him  the  whole  truth ;  and  he  knelt  down 
upon  his  knees  before  the  Abbot,  and  besought  him  of  his  mercy 
that  he  would  make  a  Christian  of  him,  because  of  this  great 
miracle  which  he  had  seen,  and  baptize  him  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  for  he  would  live  and  die  in  his  faith,  holding  all  other  to 
be  but  error.  And  the  Abbot  baptized  him  in  the  name  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  and  gave  him  to  name  Diego  Gil.  And  all  who 
were  there  present  were  greatly  amazed,  and  they  made  a  great 
outcry  and  great  rejoicings  to  God  for  this  miracle,  and  for  the 
power  which  he  had  shown  through  the  body  of  the  Cid  in  this 
manner :  for  it  was  plain  that  what  the  Jew  said  was  verily  and 
indeed  true,  because  the  posture  of  the  Cid  was  changed.  And 
from  that  day  forward  Diego  Gil  remained  in  the  Monastery  as 
long  as  he  lived,  doing  service  to  the  body  of  the  Cid. 

XVIII.  After  that  day  the  body  of  the  Cid  remained  in  the  same 
posture,  for  they  never  took  his  hand  off  the  sword,  nor  changed 
his  garments  more,  and  thus  it  remained  three  years  longer,  till  it 
had  been  there  ten  years  in  all.     And  then  the  nose  began  to 
change  colour.     And  when  the  Abbot  Don  Garcia  Tellez  and  Gil 
Diaz  saw  this,  they  weened  that  it  was  no  longer  fitting  for  the 
body  to  remain  in  that  manner.     And  three  Bishops  from  the 
neighbouring  provinces  met  there,  and  with  many  masses  and 
vigils,  and  great  honour  they  interred  the  body  after  this  manner. 
They  dug  a  vault  before  the  altar,  beside  the  grave  of  Dona  Ximena, 
and  vaulted  it  over  with  a  high  arch,  and  there  they  placed  the 
body  of  the  Cid  seated  as  it  was  in  the  ivory  chair,  and  in  his  gar- 
ments, and  with  the  sword  in  his  hand,  and  they  hung  up  his  shield 
and  his  banner  upon  the  walls. 

XIX.  After  the  body  of  the  noble  Cid  Campeador  had  been 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  451 

thus  honourably  interred,  Gil  Diaz  his  trusty  servant  abode  still  in 
the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  doing  service  to  the  graves 
of  the  Cid  and  Dona  Ximena,  and  making  their  anniversaries,  and 
celebrating  masses,  and  giving  great  alms  to  the  poor  both  in  food 
and  clothing,  for  the  good  of  their  souls  ;  and  in  this  manner  he  lived 
while  Don  Garcia  Tellez  was  Abbot,  and  two  others  after  him,  and 
then  he  died.  And  his  deportment  had  alway  been  such  in  that 
Monastery,  that  all  there  were  his  friends,  and  lamented  greatly  at 
his  death  because  he  had  led  so  devout  and  good  a  life,  and  served 
so  trustily  at  the  graves  of  his  master  and  mistress.  And  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  gave  order  that  they  should  lay  his  body  beside 
the  good  horse  Bavieca  whom  he  had  loved  so  well,  in  the  grave 
which  he  had  made  there  for  himself  while  he  was  living.  And 
Diego  Gil  remained  in  his  place,  doing  the  same  service  which  he 
had  done,  till  he  departed  also.  And  the  history  saith  that  though 
Gil  Diaz  was  good,  Diego  Gil  was  even  better. 

XX.  Eighty  and  six  years  after  the  death  of  the  Cid  Campeador, 
that  is  to  say,  in  the  year  of  the  Era  1223,  which  is  the  year  of  the 
Incarnation  1185,  it  came  to  pass,  that  there  was  war  between  the 
Kings  of  Leon  and  Navarre  on  the  one  part,  and  the  King  of  Cas- 
tile on  the  other,  notwithstanding  this  King  Don  Sancho  of  Navarre 
was  uncle  to  the  King  of  Castile,  being  his  mother's  brother.  And 
this  King  Don  Sancho  entered  into  the  lands  of  his  nephew  King 
Don  Alfonso  of  Castile,  and  advanced  as  far  as  Burgos,  and  with 
his  sword  he  struck  a  great  stroke  into  the  elm  tree  which  is  before 
the  Church  of  St.  John  at  Burgos,  in  token  that  he  had  taken  pos- 
session of  all  that  land ;  and  he  carried  away  with  him  a  great 
booty  in  flocks  and  herds  and  beasts  of  the  plough,  and  whatever 
else  he  could  find,  and  with  all  this  booty  went  his  way  toward 
Navarre.  Now  he  had  to  pass  nigh  the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de 
Cardena,  where  the  body  of  the  Cid  Campeador  lay.  And  at  that 
time  the  Abbot  of  the  Monastery,  whose  name  was  Don  Juan, 
was  a  good  man,  and  a  hidalgo,  and  stricken  in  years ;  and  he 
had  been  a  doughty  man  in  arms  in  his  day.  And  when  he  saw 
this  great  booty  being  driven  out  of  Castile,  he  was  sorely  grieved 
at  the  sight,  and  though  he  was  now  an  old  man,  and  it  was  long 
since  he  had  got  on  horseback,  he  went  to  horse  now,  and  tool 
ten  monks  with  him,  and  bade  the  strongest  among  them  take 
down  the  banner  of  the  Cid  from  the  place  where  it  was  hung  up, 
and  he  went  after  King  Don  Sancho  who  was  carrying  away  the 
spoil.  And  the  King  when  he  saw  him  coming  marvelled  wha 
banner  this  might  be,  for  in  those  days  there  was  no  banner  like 


452  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CW, 

unto  that  borne  by  any  man  in  all  the  kingdoms  of  Spain ;  and 
perceiving  how  few  they  were  who  came  with  it,  he  halted  to  see 
what  it  might  be.  And  the  Abbot  humbled  himself  before  him 
when  he  came  up,  and  said,  King  Don  Sancho  of  Navarre,  I  am 
the  abbot  of  this  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  wherein  lies 
the  body  of  the  Cid  Campeador,  your  great  grandfather  ;  and  for 
that  reason  presuming  on  your  bounty  and  favour,  I  am  come 
hither  with  this  banner,  which  was  borne  before  him  in  his  battles, 
to  beseech  you  that  you  would  leave  this  booty  for  the  honour  of 
this  banner  and  of  the  body  of  the  Cid.  And  when  King  Don 
Sancho  heard  this,  he  marvelled  at  the  great  courage  of  the  man, 
that  he  should  thus  without  fear  ask  of  him  to  restore  his  booty. 
And  he  said  unto  him  after  awhile,  Good  man,  I  know  you  not : 
but  for  what  you  have  said  I  will  give  back  the  booty,  for  which 
there  are  many  reasons.  For  I  am  of  the  lineage  of  the  Cid,  as 
you  say,  and  my  father  King  Don  Garcia  being  the  son  of  Dona 
Elvira  his  daughter,  this  is  the  first  reason ;  and  the  second  is  for 
the  honour  of  his  body  which  lies  in  your  Monastery ;  and  the 
third  is  in  reverence  to  this  his  banner,  which  never  was  defeated. 
And  if  none  of  these  were  of  any  avail,  yet  ought  I  to  restore  it 
were  it  only  for  this,  that  if  he  were  living  there  is  none  who  could 
drive  away  the  spoils  of  Castile,  he  being  so  near.  For  the  love 
of  God  therefore,  and  of  my  forefather  the  Cid,  I  give  it  to  him, 
and  to  you,  who  have  known  so  well  how  to  ask  it  at  my  hands. 
When  the  Abbot  heard  this  he  was  as  joyful  as  he  could  be,  and 
would  have  kissed  the  hand  of  King  Don  Sancho,  but  the  King 
would  not  suffer  this  because  he  was  a  priest  of  the  mass.  Then 
the  King  ordered  the  spoil  to  be  driven  to  the  Monastery,  and 
went  himself  with  it,  and  saw  the  banner  hung  up  again  in  its 
place,  and  abode  there  three  weeks,  till  all  that  booty  had  been 
restored  to  the  persons  from  whom  it  was  taken.  And  when  this 
was  done  he  offered  to  the  Monastery  two  hundred  pieces  of  gold 
for  the  soul  of  his  forefather  the  Cid,  and  returned  into  his  king- 
dom of  Navarre,  and  did  no  more  evil  at  that  time  in  the  realm  of 
Castile.  This  good  service  the  Cid  Ruydiez  did  to  Castile  after 
his  death. 

XXI.  Moreover  when  the  Miramamolin  brought  over  from 
Africa  against  King  Don  Alfonso,  the  eighth  of  that  name,  the 
mightiest  power  of  the  misbelievers  that  had  ever  been  brought 
against  Spain  since  the  destruction  of  the  Kings  of  the  Goths,  the 
Cid  Campeador  remembered  his  country  in  that  great  danger. 
For  the  night  before  the  battle  was  fought  at  the  Xavas  de  Tolosa, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  453 

in  the  dead  of  the  night,  a  mighty  sound  was  heard  in  the  whole 
city  of  Leon,  as  if  it  were  the  tramp  of  a  great  army  passing 
through.  And  it  passed  on  to  the  Royal  Monastery  of  St.  Isidro, 
and  there  was  a  great  knocking  at  the  gate  thereof,  and  they  called 
to  a  priest  who  was  keeping  vigils  in  the  Church,  and  told  him, 
that  the  Captains  of  the  army  whom  he  heard  were  the  Cid  Ruy- 
diez,  and  Count  Ferran  Gonzalez,  and  that  they  came  there  to  call 
up  King  Don  Ferrando  the  Great,  who  lay  buried  in  that  church, 
that  he  might  go  with  them  to  deliver  Spain.  And  on  the  morrow 
that  great  battle  of  the  Navas  de  Tolosa  was  fought,  wherein  sixty 
thousand  of  the  misbelievers  were  slain,  which  was  one  of  the 
greatest  and  noblest  battles  ever  won  over  the  Moors. 

XXII.  The  body  of  the  Cid  remained  in  the  vault  wherein  it 
had  been  placed  as  ye  have  heard,  till  the  year  of  the  Incarnation 
1272,  when  King  Don  Alfonso  the  Wise,  for  the  great  reverence 
which  he  bore  the  memory  of  the  Cid  his  forefather,  ordered  a 
coffin  to  be  made  for  him,  which  was  hewn  out  of  two  great 
stones ;  and  in  this  the  body  of  the  Cid  was  laid,  and  they  placed 
it  on  that  side  where  the  Epistle  is  read  ;  and  before  it  in  a  wooden 
coffin,  they  laid  the  body  of  Dona  Ximena.  And  round  about  the 
stone  coffin  these  verses  were  graven,  in  the  Latin  tongue,  being, 
according  as  it  is  said,  composed  by  King  Don  Alfonso  himself. 

BELLIGER,  INVICTUS,  FAMOSUS   MARTE  TRIUMPHIS, 
CLAUDITUR   HOC  TUMULO  "MAGNUS   DIDACI   RODERICUS. 

And  upon  his  tomb  he  ordered  these  verses  to  be  graven  also : 

QUANTUM   ROMA   POTENS   BELLICIS   EXTOLUTUR  ACTIS, 
VIVAX   ARTHURUS   FIT   GLORIA  QUANTUM   BRITANNIS, 
NOBILIS   E   CAROLO   QUANTUM   GAUDET   FRANCIA  MAGNO, 
TANTUM   IBERIA   DURIS   CID   INVICTUS   CLARET. 

And  upon  the  walls  it  was  thus  written.  I  who  lie  here  interred 
am  the  Cid  Ruydiez,  who  conquered  King  Bucar  with  six  and 
thirty  Kings  of  the  Moors  ;  and  of  those  six  and  thirty,  twenty  and 
two  died  in  the  field.  Before  Valencia  I  conquered  them,  on 
horseback,  after  I  was  dead  being  the  seventy  and  second  battle 
which  I  won.  I  am  he  who  won  the  swords  Colada  and  Tizona. 
God  be  praised,  Amen. 

XXIII  The  body  of  the  Cid  remained  here  till  the  year  of  the 
Incarnation  1447,  when  the  Abbot  Don  Pedro  del  Burgo  ordered 


454  CHRONICLE   OF  THE   CID, 

the  old  Church  to  be  pulled  down  that  a  new  one  might  be 
built  in  its  place.  And  then  as  all  the  sepulchres  were  removed, 
that  of  the  Cid  was  removed  also,  and  they  placed  it  in  front  of 
the  Sacristy,  upon  four  stone  lions.  And  in  the  year  1540  God 
put  it  in  the  heart  of  the  Abbot  and  Prior,  Monks,  and  Convent  of 
the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  honour  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  and  of  the  Cid  and  other  good 
knights  who  lay  buried  there,  and  for  the  devotion  of  the  people, 
to  beautify  the  Great  Chapel  at  the  said  Monastery  with  a  rich 
choir  and  stalls,  and  new  altars,  and  goodly  steps  to  lead  up  to 
them.  And  as  they  were  doing  this  they  found  that  the  tomb  of 
the  blessed  Cid,  if  they  left  it  where  it  was,  which  was  in  front  of 
the  door  of  the  Sacristy,  before  the  steps  of  the  altar,  it  would 
neither  be  seemly  for  the  service  of  the  altar,  because  it  was  in  the 
way  thereof,  nor  for  his  dignity,  by  reason  that  they  might  stumble 
against  it ;  .  .  moreover  it  was  fallen  somewhat  to  decay,  and  set 
badly  upon  the  stone  lions  which  supported  it ;  and  there  were 
other  knights  placed  above  him.  Whereupon  the  Abbot,  Prior, 
Monks,  and  Convent  resolved  that  they  would  translate  his  body, 
and  remove  the  other  tombs  to  places  convenient  for  them,  hold- 
ing that  it  was  not  meet  that  those  who  neither  in  their  exploits 
nor  in  holiness  had  equalled  him  in  life,  should  have  precedency 
of  him  after  death.  And  they  were  of  accord  that  the  day  of  this 
translation  should  not  be  made  public,  knowing  how  great  the 
number  would  be  of  knights  and  other  persons  who  would  be  de- 
sirous of  being  at  this  festival,  for  which  cause  they  doubted  lest 
some  misadventure  would  betide  of  tumults  and  deaths,  or  scan- 
dals, such  as  are  wont  to  happen  on  such  occasions ;  they  were 
therefore  minded  to  do  this  thing  without  giving  knowledge  thereof 
to  any  but  those  who  were  in  the  Monastery,  who  were  of  many 
nations  and  conditions,  and  who  were  enow  to  bear  testimony 
when  it  was  done ;  for  there  was  no  lack  there  besides  the  reli- 
gious, of  knights,  squires,  hidalgos,  labourers,  and  folk  of  the  city 
and  the  district  round  about,  and  Biscayans  and  mountaineers,  and 
men  of  Burgundy  and  of  France. 

XXIV.  So  on  Thursday,  the  eighth  day  of  Epiphany,  being  the 
thirteenth  day  of  January  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1541,  and  at  the 
hour  of  complines,  the  Abbot  and  Convent  being  assembled,  to- 
gether with  serving-men  and  artificers  who  are  called  for  this  pur- 
pose, they  made  that  night  wooden  biers  that  the  tomb  might  be 
moved  more  easily  and  reverently,  and  with  less  danger.  And  on 
the  morrow,  which  was  Friday,  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  said 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  455 

month  and  year,  the  Convent  having  said  primes  and  the  mass  of 
Our  Lady,  according  to  custom,  and  the  Abbot  Fray  Lope  de 
Frias,  who  was  a  native  of  Velorado,  having  confessed  and  said 
mass,  the  doors  of  the  Church  being  open,  and  the  altar  richly 
dressed,  and  the  bells  ringing  as  they  are  wont  to  do  upon  great 
festivals,  at  eight  in  the  morning  there  assembled  in  the  Church  all 
the  brethren  of  the  Monastery,  nineteen  in  number,  the  other 
fifteen  being  absent  each  in  his  avocation ;  and  there  were  present 
with  them  Sancho  de  Ocana,  Merino  and  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Monastery ;  Juan  de  Rosales,  Pedro  de  Ruseras,  and  Juan  Ruyz, 
squires  of  the  house ;  master  Ochoa  de  Artiaga,  a  mason,  with 
his  men;  Andres  de  Carnica,  and  Domingo  de  Artiaga,  master 
Pablo  and  master  Borgonon,  stone-cutters,  with  their  men ;  and 
master  Juan,  a  smith,  with  his ;  and  all  the  other  workmen  and 
serving-men  and  traders  who  were  in  the  house.  And  the 
Abbot  being  clad  in  rich  vestments,  and  the  ministers  and  ac- 
olytes with  him,  with  cross,  candles,  and  torches  burning,  went 
all  in  procession  to  Our  Lady's  altar,  where  the  sacrament  was 
at  that  time  kept,  because  of  the  repairs  which  were  going  on  in 
the  Great  Chapel;  and  all  kneeling  on  their  knees,  and  having 
recited  the  Pater-noster  and  Ave-maria,  the  Abbot  gave  a  sign,  and 
the  Precentor  of  the  Convent  began  in  plain  descant  the  antiphony 
Salvator  Mundi.  And  when  the  whole  Convent  had  sung  this, 
the  Abbot  said  the  verse  Ostende  nobis,  and  the  verse  Post partum 
virgo,  and  the  prayer  Omnipotent  sempiterne  Deus,  qui  es  omnium 
dubitantium  certitude,  and  the  prayer  Deus  qui  salutis  aterruz, 
demanding  the  grace  and  favour  of  the  Lord.  When  this  was 
done  they  returned  in  procession  to  the  Great  Chapel,  before  the 
tomb  of  the  blessed  Cid,  and  then  the  choir  began  the  anthem 
Mirabilis  Deus,  saying  it  to  the  organ.  And  while  this  was  sing- 
ing in  great  accord,  the  workmen  stood  ready  with  their  instru- 
ments in  hand,  to  lift  off  the  upper  stone  of  the  coffin,  because  it 
was  well  nigh  impossible  to  remove  the  whole  together,  and  also 
because  the  Abbot,  Prior,  and  Convent  had  resolved  to  see  that 
holy  body  and  relics,  by  reason  of  the  devotion  which  they  bore 
to  the  blessed  Cid,  and  that  they  might  bear  testimony  in  what 
manner  he  lay  in  that  tomb,  wherein  he  had  been  deposited  sa 
many  years  ago,  as  behoved  them  for  the  honour  of  the  Cid  and 
the  authority  of  the  Monastery. 

XXV.   When  the  anthem  was  finished,  the  Abbot  said  the  < 
Exultabunt  sancti  in  gloria,  and  the  prayer  Deus  qui  es  tuorum 
gloria  servorum.     And  when  all  had  said  Amen,  the  Abbot  him 


456  CHRONICLE    OF  THE    CID, 

self,  with  a  little  bar  of  iron,  began  first  to  move  the  lid  of  the  stone 
coffin ;  and  then  the  workmen  and  others  easily  lifted  it  off  upon 
the  bier,  and  thus  the  tomb  was  laid  open  and  there  appeared 
within  it  a  coffin  of  wood  fastened  down  with  gilt  nails,  the 
hair  of  the  coffin  being  entirely  gone,  and  great  part  of  the  wood 
decayed  also.  Within  this  coffin  was  the  holy  body,  now  well  nigh 
consumed,  nothing  but  the  bones  remaining  entire.  On  some  of 
the  bones  the  flesh  was  still  remaining,  not  discoloured,  but  with  a 
rosy  colour,  and  the  bones  were  of  the  same  rosy  colour,  and  the 
flesh  also  which  had  fallen  from  them.  The  body  was  wrapt  in  a 
sendal  wrought  after  the  Moorish  fashion,  with  sword  and  spear 
by  its  side,  as  tokens  of  knighthood.  As  soon  as  the  coffin  was 
opened  there  issued  forth  a  good  odour,  and  comforting  fragrance. 
It  appeared  that  no  part  of  the  body  was  wanting ;  but  this  was 
not  narrowly  examined,  by  reason  of  the  reverence  which  they 
bore  it.  After  all  this  had  been  seen  well  and  leisurely  by  all  those 
who  were  present,  the  Abbot  and  his  ministers  passed  a  clean 
sheet  under  the  coffin,  and  collecting  into  it  all  the  bones  and 
holy  dust,  covered  it  with  another  sheet,  and  took  it  out,  and  laid 
it  upon  the  high  altar,  with  candles  and  torches  on  each  side  :  and 
in  this  manner  it  remained  there  all  day,  till  it  was  time  to  deposit 
it  in  the  tomb.  And  all  this  while  the  choristers  sung  to  the  organ, 
and  the  organ  responded.  And  when  the  body  was  laid  upon  the 
altar,  the  Abbot  said  the  verse  Mirabilis  Deus,  and  the  prayer 
Magnificet  te  Domine  sanctorum  tuorum  beata  solemnitas.  And 
when  this  was  done  he  went  and  disrobed  himself  of  his  sacred 
vestments.  And  the  workmen  went  and  removed  the  stone  lions, 
and  placed  them  in  the  place  where  they  were  to  be,  and  the 
tomb  upon  them.  And  the  Convent  went  to  perform  divine 
service,  which  was  celebrated  that  day  at  all  the  hours  with  a  full 
choir.  And  at  the  hour  accustomed,  after  this  was  done,  the 
Abbot  and  the  Convent  invited  all  who  were  there  present  to  be 
their  guests,  giving  a  right  solemn  feast  to  all ;  and  the  chief  per- 
sons dined  with  the  Convent  in  the  Refectory.  And  that  same  day 
in  the  evening,  after  vespers,  when  it  was  about  four  o'clock,  the 
workmen  had  removed  the  stone  lions,  and  placed  the  tomb  upon 
them,  and  laid  the  lid  of  the  tomb  hard  by,  and  made  all  ready  to 
fasten  it  down,  so  soon  as  the  holy  body  should  be  laid  in  it.  And 
at  that  time,  the  bells  ringing  again,  and  all  being  again  assembled, 
the  Abbot  having  put  on  again  his  vestments,  which  were  of  white 
brocade,  and  his  ministers  with  him,  went  to  the  altar  whereon 
they  had  laid  the  holy  body,  which  had  been  right  nobly  guarded 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  457 

and  accompanied.  And  the  singers  singing  the  while,  he  and  his 
ministers  took  it  and  laid  it  with  great  reverence  in  the  tomb,  all 
seeing  it  when  it  was  laid  there,  wrapt  up  and  covered  with  the 
sheets.  And  in  the  presence  of  all,  the  workmen  put  on  the  lid 
and  fastened  it  down.  Then  the  Abbot  began  the  Te  Deum  lau- 
damus,  and  the  singers  continuing  it,  they  went  in  procession  to  Our 
Lady's  Chapel,  where  the  most  holy  sacrament  then  was,  as  ye 
have  heard.  And  the  Abbot  said  the  verse  Benedicamus  Patrem  et 
Filium  cum  Sancto  Spiritu,  and  the  prayer  Dens  ad  quern  digne 
laudandum,  and  they  all  returned  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord.  And 
the  Abbot  and  the  ministers  went  into  the  Sacristy,  and  took  off 
their  sacred  vestments ;  and  then  he  returned  and  again  invited 
all  who  were  there  to  a  collation  in  the  Refectory,  which  had  been 
prepared  by  the  servants  of  the  Monastery.  And  when  this  was 
over  they  separated,  each  going  with  great  content  to  his  several 
occupation,  praising  God. 

XXVI.    It  was  a  thing  of  great  consolation  that  there  was  not  a 
person  in  that  Monastery,  who  did  not  all  that  day  feel  great  joy 
and  delight  in  his  soul.     And  there  befell  a  thing  of  which  many 
took  notice,  and  which  ought  not  to  be  passed  over  in  silence,  and 
it  was  this.     There  was  a  great  want  of  rain  in  the  land  of  Rioja 
and  Bureva,  and  the  district  of  Cardena  also  was  in  want  of  water, 
though  not  in  such  great  need,  for  it  was  long  since  any  rain  had 
fallen ;  and  it  pleased  God  that  on  the  aforesaid  Thursday,  the  eve 
of  the  translation,  at  the  very  hour  when  the  Abbot  and  his  people 
began  to  prepare  the  bier,  and  make  all  things  ready  for  opening 
and  removing  the  tomb,  a  soft  and  gentle  rain  began,  such  a  rain 
that  to  those  who  were  out  of  doors  it  was  nothing  troublesome, 
and  to  the  country  greatly  profitable,  and  pleasant  unto  all ;  and  it 
lasted  all  that  night,  and  all  the  day  following,  till  the  holy  business 
of  the  translation  was  accomplished,  and  then  it  ceased.     Now  i 
was  found  that  this  rain  had  fallen  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same 
manner,  both  in  the  country  below  Burgos,  and  also  in  Bureva  al 
that  it  rarely  hath  happened  for  rain  to  fall  at  one  time  in  Ix 
inces,  because  they  are  wont  to  have  rain  with  different  winds 
seemeth   therefore   that  this  blessed   knight,  who  while  he  1 
protected  and  defended  that  country  with  his  person  and  his 
beholding  the  service  which  was  done  him,  and  how  he  wa 
membered,  favoured  it  at  that  time  ,n  heaven  with  his 
cession,  by  sending  that  thing  whereof  it  had  then  most 
which  was  water  from   heaven,  in  order  that  it  might  be  made 


458  CHRONICLE   OF  THE    CID, 

manifest  that  he  never  ceased  to  show  favour  to  those  who  trusted1, 
in  him,  and  to  that  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de  Cardena.  And  an; 
account  of  this  translation,  and  of  all  this  which  befell,  was  drawn  up- 
by  the  Abbot  Fray  Lope  de  Frias,  and  signed  by  all  the  brethrem 
of  the  Monastery,  and  all  the  chief  persons  there  present. 

XXVII.  Now  albeit  this  translation  of  the  body  of  the  blessed' 
Cid  had  been  made  with  such  honour  and  reverence,  they  were 
many  who  murmured  against  it ;  and  Don  Pero  Fernandez  de 
Velasco,  Duke  of  Frias,  who  was  then  Constable  of  Castile,  and 
the  Municipality  of  Burgos,  sent  advice  thereof  to  the  Emperor 
Charles  V.  who  was  at  that  time  in  Flanders,  beseeching  him  to 
give  order  that  the  tomb  of  the  Cid  might  be  translated  back  to  its 
former  place,  and  that  of  Dona  Ximena  also,  which  had  been  re- 
moved into  the  Cloisters  of  the  Monastery.  Hereupon  the  Emperor 
despatched  letters  to  his  Governor,  Cardinal  Juan,  bidding  him  see 
that  the  petition  of  the  Constable  and  of  the  city  of  Burgos  was 
fulfilled,  and  the  Cardinal  in  obedience  thereunto  despatched  the 
provision  here  following. 

The  King. 

Venerable  Abbot,  Monks  and  Convent  of  St.  Pedro  de  Car- 
dena, know  ye  that  we  have  ordered  to  be  given,  and  do  hereby 
give  our  edict  unto  you,  to  the  following  tenor.  The  Council,  Jus- 
tice, and  Regidores,  Knights,  Esquires,  Artificers,  and  Good  Men 
of  the  City  of  Burgos,  have  made  a  memorial  to  us  the  King,  show- 
ing, that  we  well  know  the  fame,  nobleness,  and  exploits  of  the  Cidr 
which  are  notorious  to  all,  from  whose  valour  there  redoundeth 
honour  to  all  Spain,  and  especially  to  that  city  whereof  he  was  a 
native,  and  where  he  had  his  origin  and  birth  place ;  and  that  one 
of  the  principal  things  which  they  who  pass  through  that  city,  both 
natives  of  these  kingdoms  and  strangers  also,  desire  to  see,  is  his 
tomb  and  the  place  wherein  he  and  his  ancestors  are  interred,  for 
his  greatness  and  the  antiquity  thereof :  and  that  it  is  now  some 
thirty  or  forty  days  since  ye,  not  having  respect  to  this,  neither 
bearing  in  mind  that  the  Cid  is  our  progenitor,  nor  the  possessions 
which  he  left  to  your  house,  nor  the  authority  that  it  is  to  the  said 
Monastery  that  he  should  there  have  been  interred,  have  removed 
and  taken  away  his  tomb  from  the  middle  of  the  Great  Chapel, 
where  it  had  stood  for  more  than  four  hundred  years,  and  placed 
it  near  a  staircase,  in  a  place  unseemly,  and  unlike  that  where  it 
was  placed  heretofore,  both  in  authority  and  honour.  Moreover 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  459 

ye  have  removed  with  him  the  tomb  of  Dona  Ximena  his  wife,  and 
placed  it  in  the  Cloisters  of  the  said  Monastery,  full  differently 
from  where  it  was.  The  which  that  city,  as  well  because  it  touch- 
eth  us  as  for  her  honour,  doth  greatly  resent ;  and  albeit  that  as 
soon  as  it  was  known  the  Corregidor  and  three  of  the  Regidores 
thereof  went  there  to  prevail  with  ye  that  ye  should  restore  the 
said  bodies  to  the  place  where  they  were  wont  to  be,  ye  would  not 
be  persuaded ;  whereof  the  said  city  holdeth  itself  greatly  ag- 
grieved ;  and  moreover  it  is  a  thing  of  bad  example  for  Monasteries 
and  Religioners,  who,  seeing  how  lightly  the  tomb  of  so  famous  a 
person  hath  been  removed,  may  venture  to  remove  and  change  any 
monuments  and  memorials,  whereby  great  evil  would  accrue  to  our 
kingdoms.  And  the  said  City  supplicateth  and  beseeching  us  of 
our  grace,  that  we  would  be  pleased  to  give  command  that  ye 
should  restore  the  bodies  of  the  Cid  and  of  his  wife  to  the  same 
place  and  form  as  heretofore.  And  the  Cid  having  been  so  signal 
a  person,  and  one  from  whom  the  Royal  Crown  of  Castile  hath 
received  such  great  and  notable  services,  we  marvel  that  ye  should 
have  made  this  alteration  in  their  tombs,  and  we  command  you  if 
it  be  so  that  their  bodies  or  their  tombs  have  been  indeed  removed, 
as  soon  as  ye  receive  this,  to  restore  them  to  the  same  place,  and 
in  the  same  form  and  manner  as  they  were  before ;  and  in  case 
they  have  not  yet  been  removed,  that  ye  do  not  move  nor  touch 
them,  neither  now  nor  at  any  time  to  come.  And  having  first  com- 
plied with  this  order,  if  ye  have  any  cause  or  reason  for  making 
this  removal,  ye  are  to  send  us  an  account  thereof,  and  also  how 
ye  have  restored  the  said  bodies  and  tombs  to  their  former  place 
within  forty  days,  to  the  end  that  we  may  give  order  to  have 
this  matter  inspected,  and  provide  as  shall  be  most  convenient. 
Done  in  Madrid,  the  8th  day  of  the  Month  of  July,  in  the  year 
1541.  Johannes  Cardinalis,  by  command  of  his  Majesty,  Governor 
in  his  name. 

XXVIII.  This  provision  having  been  notified  unto  them,  the 
Abbot  and  Monks  made  answer  that  they  were  ready  to  obey  it, 
and  that  he  would  go  and  give  account  to  the  Lord  Governor  of 
what  had  been  done.  And  the  Abbot  went  accordingly  to  Court, 
and  informed  the  Cardinal  Governor  of  the  translation  which  had 
been  made ;  and  that  the  tomb  of  the  Cid  had  been  removed  to 
a  place  more  decorous,  and  nearer  the  High  Altar,  and  answering 
the  site  where  King  Don  Alfonso  VI.  had  commanded  him  1 
placed  in  his  ivory  chair  before  he  was  first  interred  ;  and  when 


460  CHRONICLE    OF   THE   CID, 

the  vault  had  been  made  wherein  he  had  lain  many  years.  And 
that  the  reason  why  the  tomb  had  been  moved  was,  that  the  pas- 
sage from  the  Sacristy  to  the  choir  and  to  the  High  Altar  might 
be  cleared;  and  that  the  reason  why  it  had  not  been  placed  in 
the  middle  of  the  Great  Chapel,  was,  that  if  that  place  were 
occupied,  it  seemed  due  to  Queen  Dona  Sancha  the  foundress 
of  that  House,  or  to  King  Don  Ramiro,  who  had  held  that 
place  in  the  old  Church.  But  notwithstanding  all  these  rea- 
sons which  the  Abbot  alleged,  the  Cardinal  ordered  him  to  obey 
the  King's  command.  Hereupon  the  Abbot  returned  to  the 
Monastery  and  determined  to  place  the  tombs  of  the  ("id  and 
of  Dona  Ximena  in  the  middle  of  the  Great  Chapel,  before  it 
should  be  known  in  Burgos  that  the  translation  was  to  take 
place ;  and  accordingly  when  those  persons  who  would  fain 
have  been  present  made  inquiry,  they  were  told  that  the  thing 
was  done. 

XXIX.  Now  there  have  not  been  wanting  over-curious  persons 
who,  because  the  Monastery  of  Cardena  is  the  first  under  the  royal 
patronage,  by  reason  that  it  is  a  foundation  of  Queen  Dona  Sancha, 
who  is  the  first  royal  personage  that  ever  founded  a  Monastery  in 
Spain,  and  because  King  Don  Alfonso  the  Great  re-edified  it,  and 
Garci  Ferrandez  the  Count  of  Castile  restored  it,  have  said,  that 
the  Cid  hath  taken  the  place  of  these  patrons.     And  when  King 
Carlos  II.  was  in  this  Monastery  in  the  year  1679,  he  asked  whose 
the  tomb  was  which  occupied  the  middle  of  the  Great  Chapel ; 
and  Fray  Joseph  del  Hoyo,  who  was  at  that  time  Abbot,  made 
answer,  Sir,  it  is  the  tomb  of  Rodrigo  Diaz,  the  Cid  Campeador. 
Why  then,  said  one  of  the  Grandees,  doth  the  Cid  occupy  the  best 
place,  seeing  that  this  Monastery  is  a  royal  foundation?     Upon 
this  the  Abbot  made  answer,  that  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  had 
ordered  the  Abbot  and  Monks  to  place  him  in  that  place ;  and 
King  Carlos  II.  said,  The  Cid  was  not  a  King,  but  he  was  one 
who  made  Kings.     And  from  that  time  till  the  present  day  the 
tomb  of  the  Cid  hath  remained  in  the  same  place,  and  that  of 
Dona  Ximena  beside  it ;  and  with  such  veneration  and  respect  are 
they  preserved,  that  they  are  alway  covered  and  adorned  with  two 
cloths,  whereof  the  upper  one  is  of  silk,  and  on  great  festivals  they 
are  adorned  with  one  still  more  precious. 

XXX.  Many  are  the  things  which  belonging  to  Ruydiez  the  Cid 
Campeador,  which  are  still  preserved  with  that  reverence  which  is 
due  to  the  memory  of  such  a  man.     First,  there  are  those  good 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BIVAR.  461 

swords  Colada  and  Tizona,  which  the  Cid  won  with  his  own  hand. 
Colada  is  a  sword  of  full  ancient  make  :  it  hath  only  a  cross  for  its 
hilt,  and  on  one  side  are  graven  the  words  Si,  Si  .  .  .  that  is  to  say, 
Yea,  Yea  :  and  on  the  other,  No,  No.  And  this  sword  is  in  the 
Royal  Armoury  at  Madrid.  That  good  sword  Tizona  is  in  length 
three  quarters  and  a  half,  some  little  more,  and  three  full  fingers 
wide  by  the  hilt,  lessening  down  to  the  point ;  and  in  the  hollow 
of  the  sword,  by  the  hilt,  is  this  writing  in  Roman  letters,  Ave 
Maria  Gratia  plena,  Dominus,  and  on  the  other  side,  in  the  same 
letters,  I  an  Ti/ona,  which  was  made  in  the  era  1040,  that  is  to 
say,  in  the  year  1002.  This  good  sword  is  an  heirloom  in  the 
family  of  the  Marquisses  of  Falces.  The  Infante  Don  Ramiro, 
who  was  the  Cid's  son-in-law,  inherited  it,  and  from  him  it  de- 
scended to  them.  Moreover  the  two  coffers  which  were  given  in 
pledge  to  the  Jews  Rachel  and  Vidas  are  kept,  the  one  in  the 
Church  of  St.  Agueda  at  Burgos,  where  it  is  placed  over  the  prin- 
cipal door,  in  the  inside,  and  the  other  is  in  the  Monastery  of 
St.  Pedro  de  Cardena,  where  it  is  hung  up  by  two  chains  on  the 
left  of  the  dome ;  on  the  right  and  opposite  to  this  coffer,  is  the 
banner  of  the  Cid,  but  the  colour  thereof  cannot  now  be  known, 
for  length  of  time  and  the  dampness  of  the  Church  have  clean 
consumed  it.  In  the  middle  is  his  shield  hanging  against  the  wall, 
covered  with  skin,  but  now  so  changed  that  no  blazonry  or  device 
is  to  be  seen.  In  the  Sacristy  there  are  the  keys  of  the  coffer,  a 
great  round  chest  of  satin  wood,,  the  setting  of  the  amethyst  cup 
which  he  used  at  table,  and  one  of  the  caskets  which  the  Soldan 
of  Persia  sent  with  the  myrrh  and  balsam ;  this  is  of  silver,  and 
gilt  in  the  inside,  and  it  is  in  two  parts,  the  lid  closing  over  the 
other  part ;  its  fashion  is  like  that  of  the  vessels  in  which  the  three 
Kings  of  the  East  are  represented,  bringing  their  offerings  to 
Christ  when  he  was  newly  born.  On  the  upper  part  is  graven  the 
image  of  our  Redeemer  holding  the  world  in  his  hand,  and  on  the 
other  the  figure  of  a  serpent  marvellously  contorted,  peradventure 
in  token  of  the  victory  which  Jesus  achieved  over  the  enemy  ot 
the  human  race.  That  noble  chess-board,  the  men  whereof  were 
of  gold  and  silver,  was  also  in  the  Monastery  in  the  days  of  King 
Don  Alfonso  the  Wise,  but  it  hath  long  since  been  lost,  no  man 
knoweth  how.  Moreover  there  is  in  this  Sacristy  a  precious  stone 
of  great  size,  black  and  sparkling;  no  lapidary  hath  yet  known  its 
name.  The  Convent  have  had  an  infant  Jesus  graven  thereon, 
with  the  emblem  of  the  Passion,  that  it  might  be  worthily  em- 


462  CHRONICLE    OF   THE    CID, 

ployed.  It  is  thought  also  that  the  great  cross  of  crystal  which  is 
set  so  well  and  wrought  with  such  great  cunning,  is  made  of  differ- 
ent pieces  of  crystal  which  belonged  to  the  Cid.  But  the  most 
precious  relic  of  the  Cid  Ruydiez  which  is  preserved  and  venerated 
in  this  Monastery,  is  the  cross  which  he  wore  upon  his  breast  when 
he  went  to  battle ;  it  is  of  plain  silver,  in  four  equal  parts,  and 
each  part  covered  with  three  plates  of  gold,  and  in  the  flat  part  of 
each  five  sockets  set  with  precious  stones  of  some  size,  and  with 
other  white  ones  which  are  smaller ;  of  these  little  ones,  some  are 
still  left  fastened  in  with  filigrane.  In  the  middle  of  the  cross  is  a 
raised  part,  after  the  manner  of  an  artichoke,  ending  in  white  and 
green  enamel ;  and  it  is  said  that  in  the  hollow  thereof  are  certain 
relics,  with  a  piece  of  the  holy  wood  of  the  true  cross.  Verily, 
that  part  of  the  writing  which  can  still  be  read  implieth  this,  for 
thus  much  may  at  this  day  be  discerned,  .  .  CRUCIS  SALVATOR  *  * 
SANCTI  PETRI  *  *  PORTO.  Of  the  four  limbs  of  this  cross  the  upper 
one  is  wanting.  King  Don  Alfonso,  the  last  of  that  name,  asked 
for  it,  and  had  it  made  into  a  cross  to  wear  himself  when  he  went 
to  battle,  because  of  the  faith  which  he  had  that  through  it  he 
should  obtain  the  victory  :  of  the  lower  limb  little  more  is  left  than 
that  to  which  the  plates  of  silver  and  gold  were  fastened  on. 
From  point  to  point  this  cross  is  little  more  than  a  quarter. 

XXXI.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  soul  of  the  blessed  Cid  rest- 
eth  and  reigneth  with  the  blessed  in  Heaven.  And  men  of  all 
nations  and  at  all  times  have  come  from  all  parts  to  see  and  rever- 
ence his  holy  body  and  tomb,  being  led  by  the  odour  of  his  fame, 
especially  knights  and  soldiers,  who  when  they  have  fallen  upon  their 
knees  to  kiss  his  tomb,  and  scraped  a  little  of  the  stone  thereof  to 
bear  away  with  them  as  a  relic,  and  commended  themselves  to  him, 
have  felt  their  hearts  strengthened,  and  gone  away  in  full  trust  that 
they  should  speed  the  better  in  all  battles  into  which  they  should 
enter  from  that  time  with  a  good  cause.  By  reason  of  this  great 
devotion,  and  the  great  virtues  of  my  Cid,  and  the  miracles  which 
were  wrought  by  him,  King  Philip  II.  gave  order  to  his  ambassador 
Don  Diego  Hurtado  de  Mendoza,  to  deal  with  the  Court  of  Rome 
concerning  the  canonization  of  this  venerable  knight  Rodrigo  Diaz. 
Now  Don  Diego  was  a  person  of  great  learning,  and  moreover,  one 
of  the  descendants  of  the  Cid  ;  and  being  greatly  desirous  that  this 
thing  should  be  effected,  he  sent  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Pedro  de 
Cardefia,  and  had  papers  and  depositions  sent  from  thence,  and 
made  a  memorial  of  the  virtues  and  miracles  of  the  Campeador, 


RODRIGO  DIAZ  DE  BtVAR.  463 

showing  cause  why  this  blessed  knight  should  be  canonized.  But 
before  the  matter  could  be  proceeded  in,  the  loss  of  Sienna  took 
place,  whereupon  he  was  fain  to  leave  Rome ;  and  thus  this  pious 
design  could  not  be  brought  about.  Nevertheless  the  Cid  hath 
alway  been  regarded  with  great  reverence  as  an  especial  servant  of 
God ;  and  he  is  called  the  Blessed  Cid,  and  the  Venerable  Rodrigo 
Diaz.  Certes,  his  soul  resteth  and  reigneth  with  the  blessed  in 
Heaven.  Amen. 


TH£  END. 


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